In the quiet rural enclave of Arcadian Way, a Mother’s Day celebration turned into a nightmare of unimaginable violence. Arnold De Jong, 77, and his wife Joanne De Jong, 76, were found bound and lifeless in their longtime home on May 9, 2022, victims of a calculated home invasion that shocked the Fraser Valley community. What began as a welfare check by concerned family members unravelled into a chilling tale of greed, exploitation, and cross-border opportunism. Three young men from India, barely out of their teens, stand accused of orchestrating the robbery and murders – a case that highlights vulnerabilities in elderly isolation and the dark undercurrents of financial desperation among newcomers.
As the trial unfolds in the British Columbia Supreme Court in Abbotsford, presided over by Justice Miriam Gropper, new details emerge from witness testimonies, forensic evidence, and investigative records. This investigative report delves into the lives of the victims and accused, the immigration pathways that brought the suspects to Canada, how a simple cleaning job may have served as reconnaissance, and the meticulous police work that led to their capture seven months later. Drawing from court proceedings, police statements, and media accounts, the story reveals a motive rooted in “debt, financial pressure, and greed,” as alleged by Crown prosecutors.
The Victims: A Life of Hard Work and Family
Arnold and Joanne De Jong were pillars of their community, having resided in their modest acreage home for decades. Arnold, a retired truck driver, and Joanne, a homemaker, owned a small trucking business and enjoyed a close-knit family life with children and grandchildren. On May 8, 2022 – Mother’s Day – they hosted a “joyful” gathering at their home, the last time they were seen alive by loved ones. A family member later told police the couple appeared “alive and well” when she departed around 10 p.m.
“Their hands and feet bound with rope and duct tape. Joanne had suffered fatal sharp-force and blunt-force injuries to her head and neck, while Arnold was asphyxiated, likely smothered.”
The next day, their son-in-law, unable to reach them, entered the home and made a gruesome discovery: Arnold and Joanne in separate bedrooms, their hands and feet bound with rope and duct tape. Joanne had suffered fatal sharp-force and blunt-force injuries to her head and neck, while Arnold was asphyxiated, likely smothered. The scene was marked by blood, signs of struggle, and missing items – a stark violation of their peaceful existence. Pathologists confirmed the causes of death, painting a picture of a deliberate, violent assault during what prosecutors describe as a forcible confinement and robbery.
The Accused: Young Men from India, Entangled in Debt
The three men charged – Gurkaran Singh, now in his mid-20s (19 at the time of arrest); Abhijeet Singh, mid-20s (22); and Khushveer Singh Toor, mid-20s (22) – hail from India and were residing in Surrey, B.C., when apprehended. They have each pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, facing a judge-alone trial expected to span eight weeks with over 24 witnesses, including family members, police, and forensic experts.
Abhijeet Singh owned a small cleaning business called AS Cleaners, where Gurkaran and Khushveer worked as employees. This seemingly innocuous enterprise became the nexus of their connection to the De Jongs. Prosecutors allege the trio operated as a coordinated team, driven by financial woes. Court documents and opening statements reveal they were grappling with debts and pressures that allegedly propelled them toward crime.
Immigration Pathways: A Student Visa and Unfulfilled Promises
Immigration details have become a focal point in the trial, underscoring how quickly opportunity can turn tragic. Gurkaran Singh arrived in Canada on April 16, 2022 – just 23 days before the murders – on an international student visa. He was ostensibly en route to enroll at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, B.C., but records show he never attended classes or even arrived at the institution. Instead, he joined Abhijeet and Khushveer’s circle in the Lower Mainland, diving into the cleaning business.
Details on Abhijeet Singh and Khushveer Toor’s immigration status remain less documented in public records, but their youth, Indian origins, and rapid integration into low-wage work suggest they may have entered Canada under similar student or work visa programs. The case has sparked broader discussions in the media and online forums about oversight in Canada’s international student system, though no formal links to systemic issues have been alleged in court.
A pivotal trial testimony on January 29, 2026, from a police officer highlighted how Gurkaran’s immigration file directly tied him to the crime scene, aiding investigators in piecing together his recent arrival and movements.
Reconnaissance Under the Guise of Service: The Cleaning Connection
How did these young men target the De Jongs? Prosecutors point to a prior professional relationship as the key to their reconnaissance. AS Cleaners was hired by the couple twice: once in July 2021 and again in April 2022, mere weeks before the attack. The job involved exterior work – cleaning the roof and gutters of the Arcadian Way home.
This access, the Crown argues, allowed the men to observe that Arnold and Joanne were elderly, lived alone without immediate neighbours, and appeared financially stable through their trucking business. No evidence of additional “staking out” – such as surveillance or repeated visits – has been presented, but the cleaning gigs provided intimate knowledge of the property layout and the couple’s routines. In opening statements, Crown counsel Dorothy Tsui emphasized this as the foundation for planning the invasion.
The Investigation: From Voicemail to Vehicle Trunk – How Police Closed In
The Abbotsford Police Department, aided by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), launched a thorough probe immediately after the discovery. A breakthrough came early: While processing the scene, officers listened to a voicemail on the De Jongs’ landline from a credit card company alerting to suspicious transactions beginning around 4:30 a.m. on May 9 – shortly after the estimated time of death.
Investigators subpoenaed banking and phone records, tracing purchases and attempts to Rogers Communications accounts linked to Khushveer Toor and Abhijeet Singh. Fingerprints lifted from the home matched Gurkaran Singh, solidifying his presence at the scene. Financial trails deepened the case: On May 9, Toor deposited a $5,600 cheque at a Surrey bank, purportedly signed by Joanne on May 6, with a memo for “cleanup of house.” Gurkaran deposited a similar $5,100 cheque, dated May 1. These were deemed fraudulent, stolen during the invasion along with credit cards and a pressure washer, which the men allegedly sold later.
Post-crime movements raised red flags: Two days after the murders, the trio flew to Brampton, Ontario, before returning to B.C. and renting a new basement suite in Surrey. Surveillance and records tracked them there.
The clincher: On December 16, 2022, police arrested all three at the suite. A search of their shared vehicle uncovered an object believed used in the murders, with anticipated DNA evidence linking it to the victims. Cellphone data, electronics, and forensics further corroborated their coordinated actions.
The investigation, spanning seven months, blended traditional forensics with digital trails, culminating in charges. As the trial continues, with testimonies ongoing as of late January 2026, the De Jong family watches intently, seeking justice for a senseless loss. This case serves as a stark reminder of the perils facing isolated seniors and the need for vigilance in community services.