Murder of Linda Andersen (the Bathtub Girls case)

Overview

The two perpetrators, described in court records as sisters aged 16 and 15 at the time, planned and executed the killing in their home. Law enforcement charged both girls and they were tried in youth court. Because they were minors, their identities have been shielded under Canadian youth justice protections and news reports typically refer to them by assumed names or initials rather than their true identities (aliases).

Crime, motive and planning

Investigators concluded the sisters selected drowning as the method. Police and court materials indicate motive was a combination of resentment and material desire: the girls resented their mother’s drinking and unstable relationships, and they imagined that killing her would produce insurance money that could finance a different lifestyle. Reports say they researched ways to commit murder on the internet and discussed the idea with friends, who reportedly encouraged them. The sisters believed the proceeds would fund a trip to Europe and a more affluent household, and they described wanting possessions and status their peers enjoyed.

Investigation, charges and sentence

Soon after the death the police treated the case as suspicious; the two daughters were arrested and charged. They were convicted in 2005 and each received a custodial sentence of ten years under youth justice procedures (sentenced). Because Canadian youth sentencing emphasizes rehabilitation and limits publicity for juveniles, authorities restricted the publication of their names. During the custodial period one sister was moved to a transitional facility and both served part of their sentences in secure youth facilities before progressing to less restrictive settings — one was reported released to a halfway house in 2009 and the other released in 2010. The specifics of youth custody and parole reflect the Youth Criminal Justice Act’s focus on reintegration rather than lifelong anonymity, balanced against public interest in serious crimes.

Timeline and key facts

• Incident: January 18, 2003 — death of Linda Andersen in Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario.
• Plaintiffs/accused: two daughters, ages reported as 16 and 15 at the time.
• Conviction and sentence: 2005, ten-year custodial terms under youth justice.
• Reintegration: one sister entered a transitional/halfway program in 2009; the other was reported released in 2010.

Media, literature and cultural reaction

The case attracted significant media attention in Canada and abroad because of the ages of the accused and the apparent cold calculation behind the crime. It has been the subject of true-crime television and books; an episode in the series Deadly Women revisited the facts and motives, while journalist Bob Mitchell wrote a book examining the case and its social context. In 2014 a fictionalized film adaptation titled Perfect Sisters drew further attention, renewing debate about how such crimes are portrayed and the ethics of dramatizing cases involving juvenile offenders.

Aftermath and significance

Beyond the immediate legal outcomes, the case raised broader questions about parental substance abuse, adolescent peer culture, internet access to harmful information, and how the justice system treats serious crimes committed by minors. Commentators have pointed to the Andersen case when discussing prevention strategies — including family supports, youth mental health services and supervision — and when debating the balance between accountability and rehabilitation for young offenders. The episode remains a frequent reference in discussions about parricide and juvenile crime in Canada.

For contemporary readers researching the case, many public reports use assumed names or avoid naming the young women because of legal protections; summaries and dramatizations therefore rely on aliases and reconstructed dialogue. Further reading and archived coverage are available in crime surveys, journalistic accounts and televised documentaries that examine both the facts of the killing and the social conditions that preceded it.

Related entries and primary-source reports can be located through contemporary news coverage and legal summaries; for general background on youth justice and identity protection in Canada see resources linked from authoritative summaries murder reports and criminal-justice overviews.