Q from 70 years: Wilbert Coffin's family hopes to clear his name with help from the Federal Justice Commission

Decades after execution for Quebec murder; family hopes his name will finally be cleared
Doubts linger over Wilbert Coffin's guilt since his conviction for the murder of an American tourist

Wilbert Coffin was hanged in 1956 at Montreal's Bordeaux prison. His case drew public attention and resembled a true crime mystery, with claims of his innocence.

Bitter memories for the family
Jim Coffin, Wilbert's 77-year-old son, says his mother kept him away from the media until he was 11, hiding him from reporters who came to their home to ask about his father. For years, Jim thought his father had died in a car accident, until his peers revealed the truth about his execution.

Background
In 1953, three American tourists disappeared in a wooded area in the Gaspé. Their remains were found weeks later. Wilbert Coffin, who had assisted in the search, was charged as the last person to see the victims alive. He admitted to visiting the victims and possessing some of their stolen property, but he always denied the murders.

Doubts over the judicial process
Legal experts such as Catherine Campbell, a professor of criminology, believe that Coffin was chosen as the "ideal suspect" because of pressure from the Quebec government to resolve the case quickly—particularly to preserve relations with American tourists. Evidence of procedural flaws, such as the lack of witnesses or effective defense counsel, suggests that the trial was unfair.

Attempts to exonerate
After Coffin's execution, numerous books and studies argued for his innocence. In 1964, the Broussard Commission found the investigation of the case to be flawless, but many of its documents remain classified. In 2007, the Canadian Parliament called for a retrial, but to no avail. Now, with the passage of Bill C-40 in December 2024, hopes are rising for an independent commission to investigate wrongful convictions—including historical cases.

Family Voices
“I’ve never forgotten that nightmare,” says Mary Coffin-Stewart, Wilbert’s 94-year-old sister. “I couldn’t hold him… I saw him in a coffin later,” she says of her last time with her brother in prison. “I don’t want to die the son of a convicted murderer,” says Jim Coffin.

Alternative Theories
Some reports suggest another group of Americans were seen in the area, or a posthumous confession by a man named Philip Cabot to murder. But these claims have never been brought to trial.

Hope for the Future
Justice for the Innocents Canada hopes that the new commission will help bring to light classified documents—including police files that have been sealed for 99 years. Jim Coffin is determined to clear his father's name while he lives.

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