This week’s Sinister Saturday really is something else… it is one of the most harrowing and purely awful cases to exist.
This week, we talk about the Greyhound Bus case, the disturbing events that took place on it, and the unsatisfying ending to this monstrous affair.
Greyhound Bus number 1170 / Picture credit: The Fifth Estate on YouTube
The stories before the crime
Before the event itself, we must discuss two very important men who are both pertinent to the case.
The first, is Tim Mclean. Mclean was a very well-liked and outgoing young man, at 22 years old he had a lot going for him in his home, Canada.
A long-time friend had a job for Mclean at a carnival, so after she called him he began work for the carnival his friend mentioned over the phone, attending the games and other similar duties.
Mclean travelled a lot for work, saw many new things and began to love his job more with every trip.
Soon after, Mclean had a decision to make; either get the bus that took 24 hours to get to its destination, or accept a plane ticket offer from friends back to Winnipeg. He chose to get the bus back to Winnipeg – he was preparing to move, with his pregnant girlfriend, to British Columbia.
Mclean then got on the Greyhound bus 1170.
Another man we must mention is Vincent Li. Li moved from China to Canada in 2001, seven years before the events of this case, wich was in 2008.
Li had a degree in computer programming, but got frustrated when he couldn’t find a job in the field and worked a few menial jobs to support himself and his wife, who worked as a waitress.
Li also became frustrated due to the language barrier between him and some colleagues, but no one would describe him as the aggressive or violent type.
In 2005, Li would be diagnosed with schizophrenia – and this would be left untreated.
After Li realised that his marriage had pretty much fallen apart, he left his wife and went to a bench, and waited for a bus.
Li also ended up getting on the Greyhound bus 1170.
Now, both Mclean and Li were on the same bus…
Mclean was sat at the back of the Greyhound bus, and Li was sat a few rows ahead.
After one or two stops for people to purchase food and stretch their legs, Li decided to move from his spot on the bus and sit next to Mclean.
Since Mclean was a kind, friendly man he smiled at Li and perhaps said hello, then turned towards the window he was sat next to and put on his headphones, in what seemed an effort to get some sleep.
Out of nowhere sometime after, the passengers on the bus hear a bloodcurdling scream, coming from the back of the bus.
Li had grabbed a large knife out of his bag and began to stab Mclean, over and over again. Li would later state that God told him to do this…
Once the bus driver realised, the bus was immediately pulled over and all passengers got off – the driver managed to close the doors and trap Li inside the bus, and then call authorities.
Witnesses would say that through the windows of the bus, they could see Li making deep cuts into Mclean’s neck – realising that Mclean was being decapitated.
They would also say that Li, after decapitating Mclean, would walk up and down the aisle of the bus, outwardly showing off what he had done.
After some time, the situation escalated to an unbelievable level: Li began eating parts of Mclean… including parts of his face.
Li continued to dismember the body, not seeming to stop for a long time.
Some time after the authorities were called, Li began trying to force his way out of the bus by stabbing at the doors. Then Li decided to try and drive the bus away, but the driver had shut down the bus meaning it had no power, and Li could not escape.
What happened after the attack?
Li was of course arrested when authorities finally arrived, and was charged with second degree murder.
However…
Li was found not criminally responsible for his actions due to his mental illness (schizophrenia), and the fact he hadn’t been taking any medication for this illness.
Li was discharged from a mental hospital a short time after his arrest.
He changed his name to Will Baker, and at this point has simply been given no more than a slap on the wrist before resuming to normal life – aside from being monitored, but only to make sure he took his medication…
Li, now Baker, was also allowed to train for a job in computer programming, the field in which he had a degree.
Justice served?
Absolutely not. The word justice has no place in this case. Li was simply let go, and after many if not all passengers got PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), the bus driver became an alcoholic because he couldn’t sleep due to the nightmares.
Mclean is clearly the main victim, but there was no one on that bus back in 2008, or people connected to Mclean, that did not suffer. Mclean would never see his partner again, and his child would never meet their father; Mclean’s family suffered a great loss.
This case is an interesting one to say the least, and really shows that sometimes the justice system can fail society – help should be offered to those imprisoned as a way to reform them, but from prison and potentially remain in prison – unlike the criminal in this case.
Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal
Tagged in Murder True Crime