A couple accused of one of the most macabre crime sprees in recent GTA history, involving the alleged robbing of jewellery and family heirlooms from an estimated 300 graves, is scheduled to appear in court this Thursday.
The Alleged Crimes and Court Appearance
John Ruch, 45, and Jordan Noble, 31, face more than 50 criminal charges collectively, including theft under $5,000, break-ins to burial sites, and the particularly serious charge of indignity to a dead body. The pair, who have been dubbed the 'crypt couple,' are alleged to have posed as mourners to gain access to mausoleums and gravesites across the Greater Toronto Area.
Their remand appearance is set for 9 a.m. on Thursday via video, as both individuals are currently being held in custody. At this stage, it is not expected to be a bail hearing. Police sources note that both accused were on release for previous alleged thefts when they were arrested for the cemetery crimes.
Dark Social Media Personas
As the investigation unfolded, the online personas of the accused came under scrutiny. Their public social media profiles revealed a taste for the gothic and macabre, which now appears deeply unsettling in the context of the charges.
John Ruch's Facebook page featured a photograph of him in a black suit holding a dinosaur skeleton and what looks like a replica handgun, with what appear to be cuts on his face. The imagery was accompanied by slogans like "Devils Night." His bio described himself as "old ... Like a fine wine" and "depressed but makes me funny."
Jordan Noble's profile was equally dark, with a bio that read 'IDGAF' and listed her in a relationship with Ruch since 2024. She shared memes with messages such as "I hate everything about me" and "sometimes I just sit and cry because life wasn't supposed to turn out like this." Another post stated, "At my funeral don't cry, I've been dead inside for a long time and y'all didn't care."
The Police Investigation and Recovery of Stolen Items
The case began when a family reported that their loved one's grave had been disturbed. This initial complaint sparked a major investigation led by Halton Regional Police detectives Randy Sorrell and Mariya Popnikolova.
Their work, described by colleagues as amazing detective work, involved cataloguing hundreds of similar incidents across multiple jurisdictions. The investigation led police to execute a search warrant at a motel in Niagara Falls, where they recovered hundreds of pieces of expensive jewellery that had allegedly been stolen from caskets and the deceased.
Police believe the stolen items, which included precious family heirlooms, were either fenced to pawn shops or melted down for their raw materials. A drill was also seized during the investigation, believed to have been used to break into the secure burial spaces.
Authorities are now meticulously working to return the recovered items to the horrified families, who have been victimized a second time by these violations. The detectives have been praised not only for their investigative diligence but also for their compassion towards the grieving families affected by these crimes.
The charges against Ruch and Noble have not been proven in court, and both are considered innocent until proven guilty. The case has drawn international media attention, shocking the local community and beyond with its disturbing nature and scale.
