Dellen Millard: The Aviation Heir Serial Killer
Overview
Dellen Millard, born into a life of immense privilege as the heir to a Canadian aviation dynasty, orchestrated three brutal murders between 2012 and 2013. Along with his accomplice, Mark Smich, Millard was convicted of the first-degree murders of his former lover, Laura Babcock, and a complete stranger, Tim Bosma. Millard was also found guilty of murdering his own father, Wayne Millard, a death initially ruled a suicide. The killings were marked by a chilling lack of motive beyond a twisted desire for thrills and, in his father's case, to secure his inheritance. The cases drew widespread media attention in Canada, exposing a dark underworld of entitlement, arrogance, and violence lurking beneath a veneer of wealth and success.
Early Life and Background
Dellen Millard was born on August 30, 1985, in Toronto, Ontario, to Wayne Millard and Madeleine Burns. His family was prominent in the Canadian aviation industry; his grandfather, Carl Millard, founded the charter airline Millardair in the 1960s. Wayne, a pilot, later took over the family business, which transitioned into an aircraft maintenance company. Dellen's mother was a flight attendant.
Raised in a wealthy Etobicoke home, Millard enjoyed a privileged upbringing. At the age of 14, he set a record as the youngest person to fly both a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft solo on the same day. Despite this early promise, he became aimless after high school, dropping out of college and dabbling in various pursuits without settling on a career. He became known for hosting wild, drug-fueled parties and developed a penchant for thrill-seeking and petty crime, often accompanied by his friend Mark Smich. Millard used his wealth to acquire numerous properties and expensive "toys," including vehicles and equipment, many of which were stolen during what he and Smich called "missions."
The Murder of Wayne Millard
On November 29, 2012, Wayne Millard, 71, was found dead in his Toronto home from a gunshot wound to his left eye. The death was quickly ruled a suicide by the coroner. Dellen, who was living with his father at the time, told police his father was a depressed alcoholic who was stressed about the family business.
However, after Millard's arrest for the murder of Tim Bosma, police reopened the investigation into his father's death. Evidence presented at trial showed that Dellen had purchased the handgun used in the shooting months earlier. Cell phone records placed him at his father's house on the night of the death. Prosecutors argued that Millard killed his father to prevent him from squandering the family fortune. On September 24, 2018, a judge found Dellen Millard guilty of the first-degree murder of his father. The judge stated she could find "no theory consistent with innocence."
The Murder of Laura Babcock
Laura Babcock, a 23-year-old University of Toronto graduate, was last seen alive in early July 2012. She had been romantically involved with Dellen Millard, but their relationship was complicated by Millard's girlfriend, Christina Noudga. The Crown's theory at trial was that Babcock was killed because she had become the odd one out in this love triangle.
Text messages revealed a bitter rivalry between Babcock and Noudga. Shortly before her disappearance, Babcock told friends she was going to meet with Millard. Phone records showed her last outgoing call was to Millard's phone on July 3, 2012. Her body has never been found.
During the trial for Babcock's murder, the court heard that Millard and Smich had purchased an animal incinerator, which they called "The Eliminator." The prosecution presented evidence, including a rap video where Smich rhymed about burning a woman's body, to argue that they had used the incinerator to dispose of Babcock's remains. In December 2017, a jury found both Dellen Millard and Mark Smich guilty of first-degree murder.
The Murder of Tim Bosma
On May 6, 2013, Tim Bosma, a 32-year-old husband and father from Ancaster, Ontario, took two men for a test drive in the Dodge Ram pickup truck he was selling online. He never returned. His disappearance launched a massive search and a public plea from his wife, Sharlene.
Investigators soon identified Dellen Millard and Mark Smich as the two men. Bosma's truck was found in a trailer at the home of Millard's mother. Days later, Bosma's charred remains were discovered on Millard's farm in Ayr, Ontario. He had been shot at close range inside his truck shortly after leaving his home. His body was then burned in the same incinerator used to dispose of Laura Babcock's body.
The Crown argued that the murder was a thrill kill, the culmination of Millard and Smich's desire to steal a truck and commit a violent crime. During their trial, both men pointed the finger at each other, each claiming the other was the one who pulled the trigger. On June 17, 2016, a jury found both Millard and Smich guilty of first-degree murder.
The Victims
- Wayne Millard, 71 — November 29, 2012, in Toronto, Ontario. A respected aviation executive, he was murdered by his only son for his inheritance.
- Laura Babcock, 23 — July 2012, in Toronto, Ontario. A vibrant and creative young woman, her life was cut short by a man she had been involved with. Her family endured years of uncertainty before her killers were brought to justice.
- Tim Bosma, 32 — May 6, 2013, in Ancaster, Ontario. A beloved husband and father, he was a hardworking contractor who was killed in a random act of violence while trying to sell his truck.
Investigation and Capture
The investigation that ultimately exposed Millard's crimes began with the disappearance of Tim Bosma. Police were able to track Bosma's cell phone, which was briefly turned on in Brantford, Ontario, before being discarded. The key break came when investigators traced the "burner" phone used to contact Bosma to Dellen Millard. Millard was arrested in Mississauga on May 11, 2013.
The discovery of Bosma's truck led police to Millard's farm, where they found the incinerator and Bosma's remains. This evidence then prompted police to re-examine the disappearance of Laura Babcock, who had been linked to Millard, and the supposed suicide of his father, Wayne Millard. Mark Smich was arrested on May 22, 2013. The complex investigation involved analyzing thousands of text messages, GPS data from multiple vehicles, and forensic evidence from several crime scenes.
Trial and Sentence
Dellen Millard and Mark Smich faced separate trials for the murders of Tim Bosma and Laura Babcock. In both cases, they were found guilty of first-degree murder and received automatic life sentences with no possibility of parole for 25 years.
Dellen Millard faced a third trial, by judge alone, for the murder of his father. On September 24, 2018, he was again found guilty of first-degree murder. The judge ordered that his three life sentences be served consecutively, resulting in a parole ineligibility period of 75 years. This was one of the longest sentences in Ontario's history.
However, in 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that stacking parole ineligibility periods for multiple murders was unconstitutional. As a result, Millard's and Smich's parole ineligibility was reduced to 25 years. Both men have appealed their convictions, but the appeals were rejected in 2023.
While incarcerated, Millard was also convicted of assault causing bodily harm for his role in a prison stabbing in 2021, for which he received a concurrent one-year sentence.
Aftermath and Legacy
The murders committed by Dellen Millard and Mark Smich shocked the Canadian public, not only for their brutality but for their senselessness. The case highlighted the stark contrast between Millard's privileged background and the depravity of his actions. The Bosma family, in particular, became a symbol of innocent victims caught in the path of evil, and their grace in the face of unimaginable tragedy resonated deeply with the public.
The families of the victims have spoken out about their enduring pain and the failures of the justice system, particularly after the Supreme Court decision reduced the killers' parole ineligibility. The case serves as a chilling reminder that evil can exist in any social class and that some crimes are driven by nothing more than a desire for power and control.
