Otacu is a notorious serial killer who terrorized the small town of Leamington, Ontario in the early 1990s. He was responsible for the deaths of at least five young women, all of whom were found strangled and dumped in the woods outside of town.
The first victim, 17-year-old Sarah Stevens, was discovered in May 1991. Over the next two years, four more bodies were found in the same area, all with the same MO. The town was gripped by fear as the killer remained at large, and the police were under intense pressure to catch the perpetrator.
Despite a massive manhunt, Otacu managed to evade capture for several years. He was finally caught in November 1993 after a tip from an anonymous caller led the police to his door.
At the time of his arrest, Otacu was 35 years old and working as a handyman in Leamington. He had a history of violent behavior and had been in and out of prison for various offenses.
During his trial, Otacu's defense team argued that he was mentally unstable and had a history of mental health issues. However, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence against him, including DNA evidence linking him to the murders.
In the end, Otacu was found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He remains in prison to this day, serving out his sentence in a maximum security facility.
The case of Otacu remains one of the most heinous crimes in the history of Leamington, and his name is still remembered with fear and revulsion by many in the community.