Faces of the lives lost: These families blame Kenneth Law for their grief

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

A TikToker, a university student and a would-be police officer are among the more than 130 lives cut short in multiple countries, allegedly linked to Kenneth Law.

The Toronto-area man was arrested in May 2023 after Peel Regional Police investigated two local deaths. More charges were later laid, and Law now faces 14 counts of first-degree murder and 14 counts of counselling or aiding suicide, all in Ontario. Police allege Law, 59, operated websites selling a potentially lethal substance and other suicide paraphernalia to at-risk clients.

British investigators say they're probing the deaths of 97 people who purchased products from Canadian-based websites allegedly linked to Law. At the same time, authorities from other countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Italy and Ireland, suspect he may be tied to many more deaths.

CBC News has been in touch with several families who agreed to speak about their loss.

Jeshennia Bedoya Lopez, 18

Jeshennia Bedoya Lopez's mother Maria Lopez remembers her daughter not just as her only child, but as a friend and confidant. Jeshennia had an infectious smile, Maria said. She was "a jokester, a good student, a good daughter" and a good source of advice.

Living in Aurora, Ont., Jeshennia had just graduated from high school three months before she died in September 2022. Jeshennia dreamt of one day becoming a police officer, her parents said.

Her name is listed in court documents as a victim of Kenneth Law. When detectives informed her parents of the connection to Law, Jeshennia's father told CBC News it left them "in shock."

"She was everything to us," said Leonardo Bedoya.

Adam Birch, 28

Briton Adam Birch worked in the video game industry and had a network of friends online from every corner of the world. 

"I've never met anybody who was so non-judgmental," his stepmother, Sarah Dornford-May, told CBC News from her home in Cheshire, England. "He taught me a lot." 

Adam, 28, developed severe tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, in 2021, which affected his mental health. Five months after his death in March 2023, Dornford-May said police informed the family that Adam had appeared on a list of Law's customers. 

"We miss him terribly," she said.

"I know [Law] is being tried in Canada," Dornford-May said. "We would really like him to be tried over here, as well."

Benjamin Cohn, 34

Benjamin Cohn from Illinois was a "tech wiz," his brother Gerald Cohn said, and he loved his job as a Samsung products advisor. Online, his friends — who knew him as "Benji" — described him as an avid fan of basketball and mixed martial arts.

Gerald said Benjamin endured mental health struggles during adulthood. After Benjamin's death in Feb. 2023, Gerald said he found a receipt linked to Kenneth Law in Benjamin's email inbox.

Speaking about his brother "isn't going to bring him back," Gerald told CBC News. "But I want everyone to know he was a good kid and he was so loved."

Gary Cooper, 41

Lee Cooper remembers his brother Gary, from Liverpool, England, as "brilliant." He said Gary endured mental health struggles but was beginning to turn a corner in the summer of 2022.

"He was getting help. He was slowly but surely getting there, and unfortunately he found [a pro-suicide] forum before he could get better, so he didn't get a chance to heal."

Gary used a toxic substance to take his own life. Lee said investigators found that the envelope used to mail the poison was postmarked from Canada.

Michael Dunham, 38

The family of Briton Michael Dunham has been fighting to get a pro-suicide forum shut down since his death in October 2021. His sister Hollie said it's "to make sure nobody else ever goes through what we've been through.... I'll do whatever it takes."

After Michael's death, Hollie was forwarded a series of text messages he had sent. They included a picture of a packet from a website linked to Law.

"I am so sorry," Michael wrote.

Anthony Jones, 17

Tonia Jones, from the Detroit area, remembers her son Anthony as a "good kid" who loved sweets, devoured books and enjoyed anime. Since his death in February 2022, Tonia has tried to warn other parents to "watch for warning signs" of loved ones in distress.

After Anthony ingested a substance purchased online, he ran to his mother and screamed, "I want to live, I want to live," Tonia said. He was rushed to hospital, but it was too late.

A torn-up paper invoice was later found nearby, showing Anthony's address and a company name associated with Law.

Stephen Mitchell Jr., 21

Stephen Mitchell Jr. grew up in Toronto and enjoyed basketball, as well as volunteering at a Christian basketball youth outreach program.

His father, Stephen Sr., described him as "caring and giving, quiet, introspective and thoughtful," with a sharp memory. Stephen Jr. could recall stories and facts "with amazing accuracy and detail," his father said.

Stephen Jr. died on March 25, 2023. He's listed in Ontario court documents as a victim of Kenneth Law.

When Stephen Sr. delivered the eulogy at his son's funeral, he said Stephen Jr. had long silently suffered from depression.

"Mental illness is just as real as physical illness," Stephen Sr. said. "The consequences of our mental health can be just as devastating."

Imogen Nunn, 25

Known as "Deaf Immy" on social media, Imogen Nunn posted TikTok videos raising awareness about the deaf community and mental health issues in Britain. She had more than 780,000 followers on the platform.

"I still get messages now, saying 'Immy did so much for me,'" through her online activism, her mother, Louise, said.

Five months after her daughter's death in January 2023, Louise said police told her Immy's name appeared on a list of Law's clients.

"Everyone who knew her just loved her," Louise said.

Tom Parfett, 22

Tom Parfett was a bright British philosophy student who cheered for Manchester United on the soccer pitch and worked at the Lego Store in London to earn some cash, his father said.

"I am 99 per cent certain that if my son was unable to source this drug, he'd still be here," David Parfett said.

Tom died in October 2021, after ingesting a toxic substance. British police said they didn't learn until a full year later that a packet had been found near the young man's body, bearing the name of a website associated with Law.

Ashtyn Prosser, 19

Kim Prosser says her son Ashtyn was "funny, brilliant, just an amazing, loving soul." 

When his high school classes in Windsor, Ont., went online amid the pandemic, Kim says Ashtyn's mental health declined. Despite academic challenges, he was accepted to university in Toronto, but after a few months, the isolation became too hard and he dropped out. He was a month away from his 20th birthday when he died by suicide in March.

Ashtyn is listed in Ontario court documents as one of Law's alleged victims.

Kim urges anyone struggling to seek support. "Tell one person … that you need help." She plans to launch a foundation promoting mental health, in honour of her son, "to keep him alive in every one of us."

Neha Raju, 23

Family and friends gathered to remember Neha Raju at a funeral service in Ashford, England, in April 2022. "She was often quiet when you first met her," Neha's younger sister tearfully recalled, "but when she warmed up to you, you began to see her fun, quirky side that made her, her."

A coroner's report into Neha's death was sent to a Mississauga, Ont., post office box associated with Law.

"We will miss you dearly," her sister said at Neha's funeral. "You left us way too early."

Noelle Ramirez, 20

David Ramirez, of Montrose, Colo., said losing his daughter Noelle in March 2023 has been "devastating." He described Noelle as so kind and smart, "she would build computers for her friends who couldn't afford them." She also struggled with depression and had been diagnosed with autism.

After Noelle's death, David found two separate order confirmation emails from a company associated with Law.

"My daughter should still be here," David said. "I think she ran into a person who was more than willing to coach her through this and sell her the product."

Tom Windsor, 29

Well travelled, Tom Windsor worked at times in Greece, Spain and the Czech Republic. He volunteered with an LGBTQ Pride organization in Exeter, England. His family said Tom "touched so many of our hearts with his gentle soul, kind heart, bold attitude and sense of humour."

A coroner's inquest in November 2022 heard that Tom had ordered the poison that killed him from a company in Canada.

His family continues to raise funds for British mental health initiatives through the Tom Windsor Memorial Fund. "He is greatly missed," Tom's family wrote, "and his memory is treasured."

LISTEN | The story behind the case against Kenneth Law:

Front Burner24:17Over 100 deaths, lethal substances, and a global investigation

If you have a news tip related to this story, contact CBC News senior reporter Thomas Daigle by email: thomas.daigle@cbc.ca.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:

• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling on the website.

• Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

• This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.