The Unsolved Murder Of Ivan Leroy Wheeler

Ivan Leroy Wheeler
Date of Birth: May 26, 1951
Date of Murder: February 18, 1977
Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Details About Ivan’s Murder: Ivan was found dead in his cab in the early morning of February 18, 1977. He was in the parking lot of a London Racquet Club (Cheapside Street). He had been shot in the back of the head with a small calibre pistol.

Ivan was last seen alive about 9:45pm on February 17 in Thamesville, approximately 50 miles away from London, where he had dropped a fare off. Members leaving the racquet club about 11:30pm noticed his cab parked in the parking lot but assumed the driver was sleeping and so they did not investigate. Eventually a police officer checked the car, at about 5:20am, and found Ivan’s body. Since the bullet wound was concealed by his parka hood and there was almost no blood, they had initially believed that he had died of a seizure. The bullet wound was discovered during the autopsy.

Ivan’s wallet, coin changer and brief case were found inside the cab untouched. Law enforcement had theorized that he started the meter shortly after turning off of highway 401.

Ivan’s parents lost both of their children within a space of five months. In September of 1976, their 22-year-old daughter died in a car accident. Following his sister’s death, Ivan had come to London from Belgrave to share an apartment with his bereaved brother-in-law.

London Police Service
601 Dundas Street
London, ON
N6B 1X1
Telephone: 519-661-5670
Fax: 519-661-5999