Winnipeg man wanted in Philippines for allegedly paying to watch child sex abuse: search warrant
CBC
WARNING: This article contains details of abuse.
One of three men wanted in connection with a notorious child sex abuse case in the Philippines is living in Winnipeg, say search warrant documents obtained by CBC News.
Marshall Ruskin, 63, a former civilian webmaster for the Department of National Defence in Winnipeg, is alleged to have wired thousands of dollars to dark web operators in the Philippines responsible for the creation of "heinous child sexual abuse videos," including the series "Daisy's Destruction."
Police have been in possession of Ruskin's electronic devices since 2019 and are appearing before the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench Tuesday to ask for an extension of time to keep them.
Winnipeg police seized the devices in an August 2019 search of a Garden City home Ruskin shares with his 28-year-old wife.
In an unproven sworn affidavit filed with the court in order to gain access to Ruskin's electronic devices, investigators allege he paid to watch the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines through the video-conferencing service Skype.
Police said they believe he recorded the sexual abuse from his home in Winnipeg, but they haven't been able to get into his devices because they are encrypted and password protected.
"We all agree that this is an extremely disturbing investigation and Ruskin is a very dangerous offender who is likely continuing to exploit children," Det. Sgt. Esther Schmeider wrote in the 2019 Winnipeg request for a search warrant.
According to three arrest warrants issued in the Philippines in October 2016, appended to the court document, Ruskin is wanted for the following offences:
Winnipeg police learned of the Philippines investigation in February 2017. Two years later, they raided his Winnipeg home. There are no Canadian charges against Ruskin.
The Philippines investigation focused on an Australian named Peter Scully who was arrested in 2015 after a global manhunt and has since become one of the world's most notorious pedophiles.
Scully created the "Daisy's Destruction" video series, which featured the rape, torture and murder of an 11-year-old girl, as well as sexual abuse of other children, including an 18-month-old child.
Scully was convicted of human trafficking and rape in 2018 in a Philippines court after he was found to be the mastermind behind a dark web forum called "No Limits Fun," where the Daisy videos were posted.
Scully's ex-girlfriend, Liezyl Margallo, has also been arrested and charged with helping carry out his sexual crimes against kids.
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