Three people are facing charges following a year-long human trafficking investigation conducted by the Durham Regional Police that spanned across Durham Region and the Greater Toronto Area.
The investigation began in May 2025 after police received reports of a female being groomed into escorting. Investigators allege the victim was threatened with physical violence and forced into the sex trade. In March 2026, police executed a search warrant at a residence in Pickering, where they arrested three individuals and seized drugs, a loaded firearm, and prohibited overcapacity magazines.
Those charged include 47-year-old Jeffery Earle Shirley of Pickering, who was already bound by a weapons prohibition order at the time of the arrest. He faces multiple charges, including human trafficking, weapons offences, and drug trafficking. Taylor Daniel EIBBETT, 36, of Oshawa, also faces charges including human trafficking and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking. A third person, 34-year-old Amanda Lee Partridge of Pickering, is charged with material benefit over the age of 18.
Shirley and EIBBETT were held for a bail hearing, while Partridge was released on an undertaking. Police are concerned there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Human Trafficking Unit or Crime Stoppers.
This case arrives as the province works to address the issue of exploitation, with Ontario currently accounting for approximately 58 percent of police-reported human trafficking cases in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Ontario reported 2.3 incidents per 100,000 population in 2024, among the highest rates in Canada. The provincial government has launched an anti-human trafficking strategy with a 345 million dollar investment to improve support and services.
In 2025, the local human trafficking unit investigated 231 incidents and identified 192 victims or at-risk individuals who were provided with services. For those seeking support, resources are available through Victim Services of Durham Region or the Durham Region Human Trafficking Coalition.
