Biker convicted in 2006 Bandidos murders dies in Kingston, Ont. prison

An OPP officer places biker vests seized in raids on display prior to a news conference in London, Ont., Monday April 10, 2006. (CP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld)

An outlaw biker convicted of first-degree murder for his role in the killing of eight fellow Toronto Bandidos members near London, Ont. back in 2006 has died in prison, the Correctional Service of Canada confirms.

Marcelo Aravena was one of six men convicted in the deaths of the eight men, whose bodies were stuffed into cars before being abandoned in a rural part of southwestern Ontario in April 2006.

Aravena was 50 years old and was serving a life sentence at Bath Institution in Kingston, Ont. at the time of his death on June 28.

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) said his death appears to be of “natural causes.”

“As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the coroner be notified,” a statement from the CSC read.

Wayne Kellestine, the purported mastermind of the executions, was also convicted in the murders and at the time of the trial, Crown prosecutors said that the killings were the result of rising tensions between the victims and the Winnipeg chapter of the Bandidos, a group that was founded in the U.S.

The men were killed after being called to Kellestine’s farm for a meeting.

The CSC would not confirm Aravena’s cause of death, indicating that disclosing that information would be a violation of the Privacy Act.

With files from The Canadian Press