Accused serial killer John Paul Ostamas sought help from Kenora pastor

The homeless man accused of killing three other vulnerable men in the city is being described as a quiet man with a troubled past.

John Paul Ostamas, 39, has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1995, involving violent crimes against men and women.

Believers Fellowship pastor Steve Beiler lives in Kenora. He knows Ostamas from his church's Mennonite Outreach Program. He says Ostamas was a transient who often travelled through Kenora.

"He seemed like a very needy person and basically you know he was trying to work through his issues and you know deal with his past." Beiler said. 

Beiler says he knew about Ostamas's criminal past, but he never expected to hear about the murder charges in Winnipeg.

• John Paul Ostamas has extensive criminal past in Ontario

"I was in complete shock and disbelief, I honestly thought, you know, is this true? Is this the right guy?" he said.

Ostamas 'wasn't taking his meds,' friend says

Edwin Bird met Ostamas in 2010. He said the two became friends and roommates for a couple months two years ago. 

"I thought he wouldn't do nothing like that, but I forget. He wasn't taking his meds too," he said, adding that he thinks Ostamas has schizophrenia.

Bird said Ostamas was last in Kenora looking for a place to stay on April 12.

That was the last day Beiler heard from Ostamas, and just two days after one of his alleged victims, 37-year-old Miles Monias, was found beaten to death at a bus shelter on Main street in Winnipeg.

"He seemed to be in a bit of a darker place," said Beiler. "He wasn't as open. He was really kind of into himself.

"He had phoned me ... and he asked to come to church and wanted me to pick him up. And then on Sunday morning, he phoned and said that he wasn't feeling well. And that was the last I heard from him."

Beiler said as a pastor, he tried to help Ostamas work through some of his personal problems.

"He would phone and ask for prayer, ask for advice, often times would ask for money, sometimes asking for rides."

Ostamas is in custody in Winnipeg charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.

Bird said that even though he doesn't feel the two knew each other that well, he's hopeful that Ostamas will now get the help he needs.