221: Real-Life Succession: Billionaire Couple Murdered. Toxic Secrets & Bizarre Staged Scene.

The unsettling and mysterious discovery of Barry and Honey Sherman's bodies in their home has left many questions unanswered. Realtor Elise Stern's experience and the condition of the Shermans' remains paint a chilling picture of this tragic event.

The realtor's experience discovering the Shermans' posed, lifeless bodies in the home's pool room

On the morning of December 15th, 2017, realtor Elise Stern was prepared to show the Sherman's house to prospective buyers. When Barry and Honey Sherman were not home as expected, Stern proceeded with the tour. However, she encountered several oddities such as life-sized statues made from garbage and an unseasonably open window.

Elise led the potential buyers to the lap pool area, a key feature of the house, but there she was met with an eerie silence and two seated figures by the pool’s edge. Initially taken for artistic statues, the real truth struck hard as it became apparent that these were the bodies of Barry and Honey Sherman. Stern asked the housekeeper to verify the disturbing discovery, unwilling to confront the reality herself.

The realtor arrived for a house showing to find the Shermans' housekeeper unsettled and reluctant to check the pool room, where the realtor eventually discovered the Shermans' strangely positioned, deceased forms

The realtor had a conversation with the visibly troubled housekeeper, who already felt unnerved upon arrival due to unsettling signs such as Honey’s car in the driveway without fresh tracks, a newspaper left outside, and an off home alarm. These clues seemed odd, as Barry would have retrieved the paper if he was awake, and the alarm should have been set if they were asleep. The housekeeper's anxiety was further compounded, as she was reluctant to check the pool room, forcing Stern to take the lead in the grim undertaking.

The unusual positioning and condition of the Shermans' bodies

Upon discovery, the Shermans were seated in a bizarrely deliberate manner; upright by the pool with their legs crossed, coats draped like shawls, and with ligature marks on their wrists and necks. Honey's face bore injuries albeit with minimal bleeding. A belt harnessing their necks to the pool's metal railing ensured they remained seated, and given their state, rigor mortis had set in, suggesting they had been there for some time.

The Shermans were seated upright with their legs crossed, their hands bound, an ...

The case of Barry and Honey Sherman's murders uncovers a web of motives and suspicions among those close to them and within their business circle.

Friction between Barry Sherman and his son Jonathan over repayment of a multi-million dollar loan

Tension grew between Barry Sherman and his son, Jonathan, over the repayment of a massive loan—between $50 and $60 million—that Barry had extended to Jonathan for business ventures. As Barry began to demand repayment, exchanges of snippy and angry texts began, particularly as Jonathan had not repaid any of the debt by 2017. This conflict arose just two weeks before the murders. Barry, who was typically lenient with loans, became increasingly demanding of Jonathan, causing further strain. Jonathan, unable to pay back the loan due to a lack of sufficient finances, faced even greater pressure as Barry's will stipulated that all inheritance would go to his wife Honey, with the children receiving nothing unless she passed away concurrently, presenting Jonathan with a motive for the murders.

The antagonism between Barry Sherman and his cousin Carrie Winter

Barry Sherman also had a history of antagonism with his cousin Carrie Winter, stemming from a long-held belief by Carrie and his brothers that Barry had cheated them out of an inheritance after the sale of their father's company to start Sherman's own successful business. Carrie confronted Barry over what they felt was an entitlement to 20% of the company's shares, leading to a legal battle that ended unfavorably for Carrie, who was then ordered to pay Barry's legal fees. Carrie expressed public hatred towards Barry and Honey Sherman and once claimed Barry had asked him to kill Honey, which was cast in doubt by a lie detector test. After the Sherman's deaths, Carrie admitted his desire to kill Barry through a planned scenario did not match the actual murder method and although he was questioned, the police did not consider him a suspect.

The possibility of a professional hit ordered by someone with a financial motive

The Shermans' wealth and Barry's aggre ...

The investigation surrounding the deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman has been fraught with flawed theories and a lack of clear leads, despite a substantial reward for information.

The police's initial flawed murder-suicide theory and subsequent shift to treating the deaths as a targeted double homicide

Initially, the police adhered to a murder-suicide theory, suggesting that Barry killed Honey before taking his own life. The Sherman family fiercely contested this theory, holding a press conference to urge further investigation. Detectives later declared Barry and Honey victims of a targeted double homicide. The announcement came after a month of maintaining the suicide-murder narrative, a move which perplexed and upset the family, particularly since they felt the police failed to acknowledge the deliberate positioning of the bodies post-mortem.

The police recognized their initial mistakes which impeded the investigation, including not securing the murder scene and a housekeeper cleaning the house, potentially destroying evidence. On January 26th, 2018, a press conference was held, shifting the narrative from a murder-suicide to a carefully executed double homicide.

The discovery of surveillance footage of a suspicious individual near the crime scene

Surveillance footage added a new dimension to the investigation. A neighbor's camera captured an unidentified person, potentially walking outside on the night Barry and Honey died, circumspectly approaching the Sherman home several times over 29 minutes. The individual’s actions led investigators to consider the possibility of a military background. The police shared that the suspect is wanted for the murders but have only been able to describe him as being between 5'6" and 5'9". The suspect's professional conduct suggested by the absence of any cell p ...

Exploring the lives of Barry and Honey Sherman reveals a complex tapestry weaved of ambition, philanthropy, and intricate personal relationships.

Barry and Honey Sherman's rags-to-riches story and philanthropic legacy

Barry Sherman, once nicknamed "Butterball Barry" for his laziness and introverted nature, transformed into an ambitious entrepreneur who co-founded the successful Apotex pharmaceutical company. Excelling in math and science, Barry attended the University of Toronto at 16 and continued to MIT for his PhD in astrophysics. Yet, instead of a career in the sciences, he entered the pharmaceutical industry, later establishing Apotex. By the time of the Shermans' deaths, they were billionaires.

They lived in a 12,000 square foot mansion in Toronto’s affluent North York area with tennis courts, a sauna, and an indoor pool and were planning to sell this grand home to be closer to their children. Barry and Honey, who grew up with little wealth, became known for their lavish lifestyle and extensive charitable giving, contributing to Jewish charities and multiple nonprofits like United Way, and even assisting employees personally with financial aid.

Financial Restraint Despite Wealth

The Shermans were also known for their careful financial management. Despite being billionaires, they were frugal and budget-conscious, shopping at thrift stores and Costco. Honey’s wallet, held together by a rubber band, and the couple's practice of driving older cars until they were nearly unusable illustrate their restrained approach to spending.

The Shermans' complex family dynamics and personal relationships

Their family life was equally complex. The Sherman couple shared four children—Lauren, Jonathan, Alexandra, and Kailyn—three of whom were conceived using surrogates with their own eggs, hence they had different biological mothers but shared Barry as their father. Persistent rumors implied that Honey struggled with her maternal role, particularly towards her non-biological children, and felt that she was on the lower rung of the f ...