Canadian webmaster is wanted in PH for child sex abuse

One of three men wanted in connection with a notorious child sex abuse case in the Philippines is living in Winnipeg, but police have not been able to arrest him because the incriminating evidence is deeply hidden in his electronic devices.

Marshall Ruskin, 63, a former civilian webmaster for the Department of National Defence in Winnipeg, allegedly wired thousands of dollars to dark web operators in the Philippines who make “heinous child sexual abuse videos,” including the series “Daisy’s Destruction,” according to CBC News.

Marshall Ruskin, 63, is a former civilian webmaster for the Department of National Defence in Winnipeg. Police allege he paid to watch the sexual abuse of children in the Philippines through the video-conferencing service Skype. FACEBOOK

Police have Ruskin’s electronic devices, which they seized in an August 2019 search of a Garden City home he shares with his wife.

Police said they believe he recorded the sexual abuse bur have been unable to get into his devices because they are heavily encrypted.

Police have had to apply several times since 2019 to continue holding on to Ruskin’s devices until they can decrypt them.

According to three arrest warrants issued in the Philippines in October 2016, Ruskin is wanted for acts of neglect, abuse, cruelty or exploitation and conditions prejudicial to a child’s development

Winnipeg police learned of the Philippines investigation in February 2017. They raided Ruskin’s Winnipeg home in 2019 but there are no Canadian charges against him yet.

Ruskin figures in the Philippine investigation focused on an Australian named Peter Scully, who was arrested in 2015 after a global manhunt.

Scully made the “Daisy’s Destruction” video series, which featured the rape, torture and murder of an 11-year-old girl, as well as sexual abuse of other children, including an 18-month-old child.

Scully was convicted of human trafficking and rape in 2018 in a Philippine court after he was found to be the mastermind behind a dark web forum called “No Limits Fun,” where the Daisy videos were posted.

Scully’s ex-girlfriend, Liezyl Margallo, has also been arrested and charged with helping carry out his sexual crimes against kids.

Philippine police say Ruskin is one of three foreign nationals wanted in connection with the Scully investigation.

The court documents allege Ruskin wired a total of more than $3,000 Cdn in 13 Western Union transfers to Margallo. Police allege the money was for Ruskin to watch the sexual abuse of the 11-year-old girl live on video.

Ruskin is said to have sent the equivalient nearly 138,000 Philippines pesos, nearly an average annual salary there. He alledgedly transferred the funds through Western Union to Liezyl Margallo from July 11, 2012, to Sept. 20, 2012.

Philippines arrest warrants were issued for Ruskin in October 2016, while he was in that country. Court records say he returned undetected to Canada in January 2017.

Travel records included in the court documents obtained by CBC show Ruskin traveled to the Philippines 15 times from April 2013 to April 2016.