Dale Nelson
Mass murderer, rapist, cannibal
About Dale Nelson
Lived 1939 – 1999 (aged 59–60). Dale Nelson was a Canadian.
Dale Merle Nelson (March 19, 1939 – February 10, 1999) was a Canadian mass murderer who killed eight people (including five young children) and partially ate one victim in 1970 following a drinking binge and possible use of LSD.
Personal life Nelson was a logger in Creston, British Columbia, married with three children. Nelson was also known to become aggressive and unpredictable when he drank to excess and to have used LSD. The combination of mental illness and substance use likely fueled his spree.
Nelson fell into a depressed state in early 1970 and unsuccessfully attempted suicide. He subsequently spent two months at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.
Murders On September 4, 1970, Nelson drove into Creston, purchased six beers and a bottle of vodka at the liquor store, drove to the Kootenay Hotel and drank eight beers with friends. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Dale Nelson died of throat cancer on February 10, 1999, while in prison.
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Important facts
People in Dale Nelson's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Dale Nelson's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dale Nelson?
Mass murderer, rapist, cannibal
When was Dale Nelson born?
Dale Nelson was born on 19 March 1939 in Creston.
When did Dale Nelson die?
Dale Nelson died in 1999 in Abbotsford.
What nationality was Dale Nelson?
Dale Nelson was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Dale Nelson. https://biography.guide/dale-nelson/
MLA: "Dale Nelson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/dale-nelson/.
Chicago: "Dale Nelson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/dale-nelson/.
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