Bio

Wilbert Colin Thatcher was born on August 25, 1938, in Toronto, Canada. He was the son of Wilbert Ross Thatcher, who served as the premier of Saskatchewan from 1964 to 1971. Colin grew up in a political family, which influenced his future interests. He began studying agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. After one year, he transferred to Iowa State University, where he earned degrees in agriculture.

After finishing his studies, Thatcher returned to Saskatchewan and worked on his father's ranch in Moose Jaw. When Ross Thatcher passed away in 1971, Colin started to build his own political career. In 1975, he won a seat in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly as a member of the Liberal Party, representing the riding of Thunder Creek. However, two years later, he switched to the Progressive Conservative Party, a move that upset many, including his fellow party members and his wife, JoAnn.

Colin Thatcher married JoAnn in 1962. Over the years, their relationship became strained, especially after Colin’s shift in political allegiance. JoAnn felt embarrassed by his actions, and their marriage began to break down. Colin became involved in several extramarital affairs, which added to the tensions at home. Reports indicated that when JoAnn confronted him about his behavior, he sometimes responded with anger, leading to verbal and physical abuse. Despite these personal problems, Colin maintained a popular image as a politician.

In 1978, he was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly. However, his marriage to JoAnn deteriorated further, leading to a divorce in 1980 after a lengthy legal battle. During the divorce proceedings, JoAnn was awarded custody of two of their three children along with a significant amount of money, one of the largest settlements ever granted in Canadian divorce courts at that time. Colin contested the custody and settlement decisions, leading to additional conflicts.

Colin's troubling behavior continued after the divorce, as he did not always follow the court orders regarding custody. When JoAnn later moved to Brampton, Ontario, he attempted to take their younger children unlawfully. Following a violent incident involving JoAnn being shot by an unknown assailant, rumors circulated that Colin might have been involved, although no charges were ever brought against him for that incident.

Colin Thatcher's political career continued to flourish, and he even served as Minister of Energy and Mines after winning a majority in the 1982 election. However, public disputes and criticism led him to resign from his cabinet position shortly after. Then, just days later, a tragic event would mark a significant turn in his life.

Murder Story

On January 21, 1983, JoAnn Wilson was found dead in the garage of her home in Regina, Saskatchewan. She had been shot and bludgeoned. The circumstances of her death raised many questions.

In the months leading up to her murder, JoAnn had been involved in a difficult and public divorce from her ex-husband, Colin Thatcher. Their marriage had deteriorated, and there were ongoing disputes regarding custody of their children. JoAnn had previously been shot and injured by an unknown assailant, and many suspected that Thatcher might have been involved in that incident as well.

After JoAnn's death, police began a thorough investigation. They uncovered several pieces of evidence linking Thatcher to the crime. A gasoline receipt with his name was found near the murder scene. Neighbors reported seeing a suspicious orange Ford Mustang parked outside JoAnn's home on the night of the murder. This car matched one that was later identified as belonging to Thatcher, and it was determined that it had been loaned to him by the Saskatchewan government.

The bullets recovered from JoAnn matched ammunition that Thatcher had purchased during a trip to Florida. Most concerning was the testimony of a man named Gary Anderson. He claimed that Thatcher had asked for his help in the murder. Police convinced Anderson to wear a wire and meet with Thatcher to gather more information. In their recorded conversation, Thatcher made statements that suggested his involvement in JoAnn's death.

On May 7, 1984, after a lengthy investigation, Thatcher was arrested for the murder of JoAnn Wilson. He was subsequently tried in Saskatoon in the autumn of 1984. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence. Despite his claims, the jury found him guilty. He received a sentence of life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole for 25 years.

In the years following his conviction, Thatcher filed multiple appeals, all of which were denied. He was eventually granted parole on December 4, 2006, after serving part of his sentence. Following his release, he maintained a public silence regarding the murder of his ex-wife, although he has since written a book about his case.