A court in Canada has found three men guilty in the horrifying murders of retired couple Arnold De Jong and Joanne De Jong, who were brutally killed in their own home while they slept.
The shocking crime, which devastated a family and an entire community, happened in 2022 in Abbotsford. After a lengthy trial, the court has now ruled that the killings were planned, deliberate, and carried out with chilling determination.
Three Men Found Guilty in Abbotsford Double Murder Case
The Supreme Court of British Columbia found three men guilty on May 8 in connection with the murders of Arnold and Joanne De Jong.
The convicted men are:
- Abhijeet Singh
- Khushveer Toor
- Gurkaran Singh
All three men are in their twenties and had reportedly worked for a cleaning company owned by Abhijeet Singh.
According to investigators, the group had previously worked at the De Jong family home multiple times before the murders.
Retired Couple Was Found Dead in Their Beds
Arnold De Jong, 77, and Joanne De Jong, 76, were discovered dead inside their home on May 9, 2022.
Authorities say the killings were especially violent.
Investigators found Arnold with tape wrapped around his head, covering his nose and mouth. Medical officials later determined he died from asphyxiation.
Joanne was found beside him with severe head injuries and a slashed throat.
Police also confirmed that both victims had their hands and feet tied with rope.
Judge Rejects Defense Claim of Robbery Gone Wrong
During the trial, defense lawyers argued that the killings happened during a robbery that spiraled out of control and were not planned in advance.
However, Justice Brenda Brown rejected that argument.
The judge reportedly described the murders as “intimate and prolonged” and said the evidence clearly showed planning, calculation, and determination.
The ruling resulted in first-degree murder convictions for all three defendants.
Prosecutors Presented Strong Physical and Digital Evidence
Prosecutors told the court that after the murders, the suspects stole several items from the couple’s home, including:
- Credit cards
- Personal checks
- A power washer
Investigators say the stolen financial items were quickly used for personal purchases and payment attempts.
Prosecutors also revealed that DNA from all three men was found at the crime scene.
One of the most damaging pieces of evidence reportedly involved internet searches made by Abhijeet Singh after the murders.
According to prosecutors, he searched online for information about how murderers are punished in Canada.
Family Had Spent Mother’s Day Together Just Hours Earlier
One of the most heartbreaking parts of the case is that Arnold and Joanne had spent Mother’s Day with their family just one day before they were killed.
The couple had been surrounded by:
- Their three daughters
- Sons-in-law
- Grandchildren
Their daughter, Sandra Barthel, said that day was filled with love and happiness.
She later shared that the family never imagined it would be their final goodbye.
Daughters Say Nothing Can Replace Their Parents
Following the guilty verdict, family members spoke emotionally about the loss.
Another daughter, Kimberley Coleman, described her parents as kind, loving, and irreplaceable.
She said the convictions bring some justice, but the pain of losing them remains.
Family members added that while the verdict matters, it cannot undo the life sentence of grief they now carry.
Sentencing Scheduled Later This Month
All three convicted men are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on May 28 in Abbotsford.
They now face the possibility of life sentences for the brutal first-degree murders.
The murders of Arnold and Joanne De Jong shocked people across Canada and left a family forever changed. What should have been peaceful retirement years ended in unimaginable violence carried out by people the couple had once trusted inside their own home.
While the guilty verdict brings accountability, it cannot erase the deep pain felt by their children, grandchildren, and loved ones. As sentencing approaches, the De Jong family continues to honor the memory of two people they describe as loving, gentle, and impossible to replace.
