Barbara Jean MacLean, a 19-year-old white female originally from Inverness, Nova Scotia, was murdered on February 26, 1977, in Calgary, Alberta. She had moved to Calgary just six months prior and was employed at the Palliser Square Branch of the Royal Bank. Described as friendly, outgoing, and full of life, Barbara was excited to be living independently for the first time. On the night of February 25, she was socializing with friends and family at the Highlander Bar in Calgary.
During the evening, she had a heated argument with her intoxicated boyfriend, who was subsequently removed from the bar. After returning to the bar alone, Barbara stayed until closing time at 2:30 a.m., when she rejoined her boyfriend in his parked car. Another argument ensued, and the couple parted ways, leaving Barbara alone in the parking lot.
Barbara, reportedly somewhat intoxicated, decided to hitchhike to another party but never arrived. Her fully clothed body was discovered later that morning by a man walking his dog along a gravel road near 80th Avenue and 6th Street N.E., just outside Calgary’s city limits. She had been strangled, and authorities believed she was murdered at a different location before her body was dumped. Her death was initially linked to a series of unsolved homicides known as the “Highway Murders,” in which young women were raped, strangled, and left in remote areas along the Trans-Canada Highway.
For decades, the case remained unsolved. A known sex offender, Gary McAstocker, was once considered a person of interest. He had a history of violent sexual crimes and committed suicide in 1994 just before he was to be questioned in another murder case. However, he was never definitively linked to Barbara’s death.
In 2024, a breakthrough came through the use of advanced DNA analysis and investigative genetic genealogy. The Alberta RCMP, in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service and forensic genealogists, identified the perpetrator as Gary Allen Srery, a U.S. citizen and convicted sex offender. Srery had lived in Alberta and British Columbia under various aliases during the 1970s and was deported in 2003. He died in an Idaho prison in 2011 while serving a life sentence for rape. DNA evidence linked Srery to the murders of Barbara Jean MacLean and three other young females: Melissa Rehorek, Eva Dvorak, and Patricia McQueen.
Srery’s criminal history spanned decades and multiple jurisdictions, and he was known for frequently changing his appearance and identity. Authorities believe there may be additional victims. The identification of Srery brought long-awaited answers to Barbara’s family, who had endured nearly five decades of uncertainty. Her family expressed deep gratitude to the investigators and forensic teams whose relentless efforts finally brought resolution to the case.
