Unsealed court documents offer new disturbing details provided by Mantha's alleged victims
Disturbing new details about a man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting women in Calgary have come to light, as court documents exposing accounts from his alleged victims have been unsealed.
Richard Robert Mantha faces numerous charges involving five women who describe being drugged, choked, held at gunpoint, raped and stabbed.
All allegations against Mantha have yet to be proven in court.
Mantha is accused of targeting sex workers, bringing them to a Quonset on a Langdon, Alta. property.
One woman says she saw what appeared to be blood on the walls, while another says she saw what looked like bodies or heads in a trailer near Mantha's bed.
One says she saw a pig mask and gun in his vehicle.
In April 2023, Mantha's sister in Quebec contacted police after seeing her brother on the news.
She provided police with photos her son received, showing his uncle with a gun tucked in his belt.
Mantha at one point visited them, driving his vehicle to Quebec and thoroughly cleaning it before flying back to Calgary.
Mantha's blue BMW is now in possession of police in Quebec.
A pellet gun, women's clothing, boots and a purse were found inside.
One woman described losing these items when running for her life.
Police believe it's reasonable they will also find bodily substances including blood inside the car.
Police have also seized electronic devices with images and videos, including a dozen cell phones, five laptops and several tablets, digital cameras and storage devices.
Mantha faces numerous charges, including kidnapping, forcible confinement, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual assault causing bodily harm and administering a noxious substance.
It's believed the alleged offences occurred over a period of 17 months.
Mantha was charged after officers cordoned off a property east of Calgary in April and brought in cadaver dogs, but police said at the time that no bodies were found.
The documents also reveal undercover officers -- in Operation Skana -- posed as fellow prisoners following the arrest of Mantha, who went by the name "Poncho" on the streets.
The 59-year-old's bail hearing began this week and is scheduled to continue on June 22.
CTV was part of a push by multiple media outlets to unseal these documents regarding the case against Mantha.
Details of Mantha's bail hearing are under publication ban.
With files from Damien Wood
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.