Michael Rafferty was born in 1980 in Canada. Details about his early life are limited. Prior to his involvement in the crime, Rafferty was known to have led a transient lifestyle, engaging in various short-term relationships and exhibiting manipulative behavior. He had a history of substance abuse, particularly with prescription painkillers like OxyContin. Rafferty met Terri-Lynne McClintic, an 18-year-old woman with a troubled past, in early 2009.

On April 8, 2009, Rafferty and McClintic executed a plan to abduct a child. McClintic lured eight-year-old Victoria "Tori" Stafford into Rafferty's vehicle outside her school in Woodstock, Ontario, under the pretense of showing her a puppy. The pair then drove to a secluded area near Mount Forest, Ontario. There, Stafford was subjected to sexual assault and severe physical violence, resulting in her death from multiple blows to the head with a hammer. Her body was concealed under a pile of rocks in a wooded area. ​

The disappearance of Stafford prompted an extensive search and garnered significant media attention across Canada. Initial suspicion fell on Stafford's mother due to her delayed reporting of the disappearance and her history of substance abuse. However, surveillance footage led investigators to McClintic, who was seen with Stafford on the day of the abduction. McClintic was arrested on May 19, 2009, and during interrogation, she implicated Rafferty in the crime. Rafferty was arrested the same day. ​

In May 2009, both Rafferty and McClintic were charged with first-degree murder, among other offenses. McClintic pleaded guilty in April 2010 and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Rafferty's trial commenced in March 2012, and on May 11, 2012, he was found guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole for 25 years. Rafferty appealed his conviction, but the appeal was dismissed in October 2016. ​