New Zealand Coroner Links Suicides to Packages from Ontario Man

In a tragic turn of events, a coroner in New Zealand has reported that four individuals, including three young students and a personal trainer, died by suicide after receiving packages ordered from an Ontario man facing serious criminal charges. This situation has raised alarms about the dangers of unregulated online sales of hazardous substances.

The coroner’s findings indicated that three of the deceased had directly linked their deaths to items received from Kenneth Law, a former chef from Mississauga who has been accused of selling poisonous substances through online platforms. Remarkably, this brings the total number of deaths globally connected to items sold by Law to a staggering count of 129, as according to a tally released by CTV News.

The youngest of the victims was an 18-year-old university freshman whose tragic story has been outlined in a report from the New Zealand coroner’s office. Investigations revealed that the student began exploring websites and forums associated with Law back in February 2023. By March 12, she placed an order for one of Law’s products, which was delivered to her on March 29, 2023. Sadly, she was discovered dead in her college dorm room just a month later.

Another victim, a 21-year-old woman, had ordered her package in September 2022, and it arrived on November 16 of that year. It was reported that she died two weeks later after reportedly using the purchased product.

The coroner’s investigation also delved into the case of a 40-year-old personal trainer and DJ, who ordered a package from Law on June 23, 2022. While authorities could not definitively identify the substance he received, the coroner indicated that it is «more likely than not» connected to Law’s offerings. Unfortunately, his death followed the same disturbing pattern.

Finally, a 21-year-old psychology student who ordered from Law’s website on December 9, 2021, also became part of this grim report. Although the package arrived on January 14, 2022, he reportedly died by a different suicide method, demonstrating a complex web of factors leading to these tragedies.

The report further noted that a New Zealand government office has categorized at least eight discussion threads from forums associated with Law as “objectionable” under their laws. These developments have led to a concerted effort, involving consultations with local internet service providers, to block websites directly linked to Law’s operations. A working group has reportedly been established to address the sale of such dangerous substances more comprehensively.

Interestingly, the coroner pointed out a significant limitation in jurisdiction. “Mr. Law lives in Canada. His activities are outside the jurisdiction of the New Zealand Courts and I do not make any recommendations that are directed towards his activities,” stated Coroner A.M. Cunninghame. This emphasizes the challenges faced when dealing with online platforms crossing international borders.

In Canada, following Law’s arrest in May 2023, his websites had their hosting services terminated by Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform. However, numerous discussion forums that continue to promote the dangerous products remain accessible in Canada, raising concerns from advocacy groups and authorities alike.

What’s more, the recent introduction of the Canadian Online Harms Act in February aimed at prohibiting content encouraging self-harm among youth has yet to effectively address the loopholes still prevalent online. Earlier this year, at least one anonymous forum operator publicly rejected calls to remove dangerous content, revealing a troubling disregard for legal boundaries.

As the investigation into Kenneth Law unfolds, he remains in police custody facing an extensive list of charges, including 14 counts of first-degree murder and 14 counts of aiding and abetting suicide. His trial is anticipated to commence in 2025, yet the shadows of the lives lost weigh heavily on families and communities.

This tragic series of events underscores the urgent need for enhanced regulation of online substances and preventive measures for mental health, especially considering the young lives involved. Many advocates hope that more legislative action will be taken to mitigate such dangers in the future.