Sex assault trial set for 2026, 3 decades after hunt for Ont. ‘woodland rapist’

A Toronto man is set to face trial on multiple sexual assault charges next year, marking a significant development in a case that dates back three decades. Richard Neil, 65, is scheduled to stand trial in Superior Court in Brampton during the week of September 14, 2026. The charges against him include sexual assault with a weapon, kidnapping, and making child pornography.

Neil’s arrest in Toronto in March 2024 followed a lengthy investigation that spanned many years. His lawyer, Leo Adler, has stated that his client maintains his innocence and was surprised by the allegations when they first surfaced. The case against Neil stems from a series of attacks on minors that took place in the early 1990s, prompting a manhunt for the perpetrator known as the “woodland rapist.”

The police launched Project Woodland in 1995 after DNA evidence linked three unsolved sexual assaults, each involving a child being lured into a wooded area, tied to a tree, and assaulted. Neil is specifically charged in connection with attacks on a boy in Kitchener in 1992, another boy in Brampton in 1994, and a girl in Oakville in 1995. While the identities of the victims remain protected by a publication ban, authorities suspect that there may be additional victims.

One key breakthrough in the case reportedly came from investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that compares crime scene DNA to genetic data voluntarily submitted to genealogical services. This method proved crucial in identifying Neil as a suspect, according to an alleged victim who was 10 years old at the time of the assault. The use of DNA evidence was a significant advancement in the investigation, which had previously relied on composite sketches and tips from the public.

Despite the progress made in the case, there have been legal complications surrounding Neil’s charges. A civil lawsuit filed by one of the alleged victims was recently discontinued for reasons that remain unclear. The plaintiff detailed the severe physical and psychological injuries he has endured since the assault, including trauma, emotional distress, and a loss of enjoyment of life.

As Neil’s criminal case moves forward, the focus remains on seeking justice for the victims and holding the perpetrator accountable for his actions. The trial is expected to shed further light on the events that transpired decades ago, providing closure for those affected by the heinous crimes allegedly committed by the “woodland rapist.”