Recent Brutal Georgetown Slaying Still Unsolved

1 Rosetta Street is a building most Georgetown residents could likely recognize, though not for its importance to the town. It’s slated for redevelopment as a condo, and is currently vacant. Constructed as a mill in the early twentieth century, and later divided into units home to a carousel of small businesses, it is quite representative of an average unassuming industrial building in Georgetown. Its location directly beside the GO Station means many travel past every day, and while many would recognize it, few know its story. Specifically, the dark and murky events which took place on May 17, 2002.

Original newspaper headline documenting the case, Independent Free Press, 2002

1 Rosetta street was more than an unassuming building to Paavo “Paul” Henttonen, he called it work, and home. Henttonen moved to Canada from Finland in the 1970’s, alongside his brother and 2 sisters. He spent time living in the Navy, as well as Toronto. He started his business in the Brampton area before migrating to Georgetown. He married, and had one son. Though the marriage ended in divorce, he was not absentee by any means, staying positively involved in his son's life, and on good terms with his ex-wife. In Georgetown he rented a unit in 1 Rosetta Street, where he lived and worked out of. He purchased broken vending machines and industrial food equipment from companies, fixed them, and resold them. Machines he could not fix, he stripped and sold for the scrap value. Henttonen had no known enemies or grudges, meaning major shock and surprise when he was found dead, murdered in his Georgetown apartment.

Exterior of 1 Rosetta Street as it looks today, Independent Free Press, 2016

Henttonen spent the evening of May 16, 2002 at the Barber Towne Pub, where he enjoyed some drinks without company. Reports say he was a regular customer, though the bartender working that night says she hadn’t seen him before. The night went on without incident, with nothing of note happening within the bars doors. Henttonen decides to call himself a taxi and return home to his apartment, a 5 minute drive. He leaves the bar alone, and arrives home shortly after midnight. His taxi driver is the last person to see him alive.

Map of Henttonen’s final movements, Created by Author

Henttonen’s cleaning lady arrives at the business as usual in the morning. Though the apartment is not disturbed and things appear to be normal, the owner is unusually not there. This causes the employee to search around, until around 9 a.m when she makes a horrifying discovery. The body of Paavo Henttonen is lying in the apartment, surrounded by blood. The cleaning lady calls 911 immediately, and the scene was secured by police. Henttonen was pronounced dead, apparently suffering from many stab wounds. As soon as the police arrived one thing was immediately obvious, the money in Henttonen’s wallet had been taken, as well as his keys, and his truck. The truck would not be reported for 2 days after the killing, when it was found in the Dominion Gardens subdivision, only 3 minutes away from the crime scene.

Map of Henttonen’s vehicle escape route, and discovery, Created by Author

Police thoroughly examined the apartment for clues, finding no shortage of evidence.

However, Henttonen’s apartment had no signs of forced entry, meaning the killer either had a key, or was allowed in. Discovered at the scene as well, was a bloody kitchen knife, determined to be the murder weapon. It had come from a kitchen set in Henttonen’s own kitchen. DNA samples of hair, finger prints, and blood were gathered of the murderer. Blood evidence of the killer implied that Henttonen may have fought back. Additionally, a full handprint was recovered from Henttonen’s truck. After committing the murder, the killer stole the victim's truck and used it as a getaway vehicle. The crime scene had also been rearranged after the murder, with an effort being made by the killer to conceal signs of violence, to make the scene look undisturbed.

Henttonen in family photo, Independent Free Press, Unknown year

On the same day the car was discovered, the victim was taken to Hamilton for examination. It was discovered that the victim had defensive wounds, meaning he fought back against his assailant. It also confirmed the cause of death to be multiple stab wounds. Though the amount was not disclosed, it was described as a vicious and excessive attack, far more than necessary to kill, implying an emotional attachment to the victim. The suspect DNA recovered did not match any database, meaning the killer had not been arrested before. This same day Henttonen’s business partner removed everything from the warehouse, which contained equipment and metal.

What was the motive of such an attack? It is highly unusual for a random attack to be so brutal, implying Henttonen may have known his killer. With no signs of forced entry in the apartment, the killer may have had a key to the apartment. Police say the motive was not likely to have been robbery, as aside from the money taken, there were several other valuables left out in plain view in the apartment that were left untouched. Additionally, 1 rosetta street is a complex building, made up of many units. Simply knowing the address is not enough to locate the basement apartment, accessible by only one secluded entrance. It seems likely Henttonen’s killer was not a stranger to him.

Police have intentionally left the events which occurred within the apartment vague, as to prevent false confession. This way, only the killer can know the true details of the crime. Details can be inferred however, with critical thinking and logic. Henttonen is unaccounted for after the taxi driver sees him close the door behind him at midnight, to the cleaning lady’s discovery at nine. The police reports describe him being killed after returning home from the bar, rather after waking up in the early morning. This implies the killing took place closer to night than dawn. Had Henttonen gone to sleep, he would not have had a chance to fight back. Given he returned home from the bar on Thursday at midnight and had to work on Friday, it could suggest he would have wanted to sleep shortly after returning home. Given this, it is possible he was killed shortly, or almost immediately after returning home. If the killer had a key, could they have already been inside waiting?

Wayne Greavette was another machinist repairman, and a friend of Paul Henttonen. He lived in a farmhouse with his family in Acton for many years, before moving to a farm south of Guelph in Puslinch. He, like Henttonen, repaired pop machines and sold scrap metal. On December 12, 1996, a paper wrapped package with a bow arrived at the farm. The package had a letter with a message marked on it: “Didn’t realize you had moved, Had some trouble finding you. Have a very Merry Christmas and may you never have to buy another flashlight.” The 42 year old father opened the package, surrounded by his family. Inside was a large duracell flashlight, which Wayne's son attempted to turn on. Nothing happened when he flipped the switch. He hands the device to Wayne, who in turn flips the switch. This time, the house is rocked by an explosion. Wayne Greavette had been killed instantly by a makeshift nailbomb inside of a flashlight mailed to his house. Nobody was ever caught for the crime. Taking place in the same industry, in the same relatively rural area with a level of brutality, just 6 years apart, could the murder of Wayne Greavette and Paul Henttonen be linked? Could it have to do with the scrap metal industry in the surrounding area? Could this industry have a shady underbelly, dealing with money laundering, or criminal fronts? If the killer knew Henttonen from work, he would likely have access to the building.

Police sketch of 2 men seen asking for Greavettes address at the Acton post office, Ontario Provincial Police, 1996

Why did the killer steal the victim’s truck, only to drive it such a short distance? Perhaps they did not plan to leave in such a hurry, instead choosing to walk to the site. This could infer that the killer lived in Georgetown, nearby to the killer. This could also be the reason why the getaway car was driven such a short distance. After the murder, the killer would have checked the victims pockets for his keys, also discovering the wallet. They could have opportunistically taken the money, explaining why nothing else was stolen. The getaway vehicle was found nearby an entrance to Dominion Gardens Park, a potential route the killer cut through to walk back home after the crime.

If the killer was already waiting inside, did they have the intention of murdering him? The murder weapon used was taken from the victims kitchen, and the car keys taken from his pockets to access the getaway vehicle. If this was planned, why would the killer not have brought their own supplies? It seems more likely that this occurred in the heat of the moment, perhaps an argument gone wrong, or confrontation.

Using the information gathered and the theories reasoned, a profile of the killer can be made. First off, they knew Henttonen. The brutality of the attack points to a personal relationship. Additionally supporting this, is the fact the killer would have had keys to the apartment. The killer has never been arrested for a crime before. The killer is physically powerful, able to defeat Henttonen while he fought back. The killer either lives within Georgetown, or has a sense of local familiarity and shortcuts. The killer is impulsive, and is fast to act based on feelings. The killer likely did not plan the murder, rather to confront Henttonen, which escalated past control. Finally, the killer has poor control of their temper, allowing a fight to escalate to brutal murder, continuing even after death.

In the coming days after the murder, leads dried up, and the case became cold. Crime stoppers offered a $25,000 reward for information, which still stands today. Despite occurring so recently, the case does not receive the attention it deserves. It is deeply unsettling to think that the killer may walk around within the town still, getting away with such a heinous crime. Next time you are by the Go Station, think of the crime, and the people it affected. Think of the people that walk in our community, harboring the knowledge of what happened, and stow it away, getting away with it, because the case has fallen forgotten.