Mystery surrounds death of Canadian billionaire

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) -- A mystery surrounds the deaths of a Canadian billionaire and his wife whose bodies were found Friday in the couple's Toronto mansion.

Police called the deaths "suspicious" but refused to identify the bodies.

However, the deceased husband Barry Sherman is the founder of Apotex, a huge pharmaceutical firm that produces and exports generic drugs to more than 115 countries. His death and that of his wife Honey were confirmed in a tweet from the Ontario Minister of Health, Eric Hoskins, on Friday.

As well, late in the afternoon, the Apotex company issued a statement.

"All of us at Apotex are deeply shocked and saddened by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time," the statement, released to Canadian media, said.

Investigators are trying to "determine if there is foul play involved or not, said Toronto police Det. Brandon Price. "And at this point we cannot say 100 percent with certainty if there is or there is not."

Sherman, 75, founded Apotex in 1974 and he accumulated a fortune estimated at CAN $4.77 billion, making him the 15th richest person in Canada. The age of his wife was not immediately available.