B.C. man convicted of murdering family of 6 at campground denied parole
Warning: This story contains graphic details that some readers my find upsetting
A B.C. man convicted in the mass murder of a family on a camping trip has been denied parole.
David Shearing, now known as David Ennis, shot and killed six members of the same family while they were camping near Wells Gray Provincial Park in 1982.
He was convicted of murdering grandparents George and Edith Bentley and their daughter Jackie Johnson and husband Bob as they sat around a campfire. He kidnapped the Johnson’s two girls, Janet, 13 and Karen, 11. He sexually assaulted them before shooting them days later.
He then put the victims’ bodies in the family car and burned it.
Ennis is serving an indeterminate life sentence for six counts of second-degree murder. The hearing took place at Bowden Institution in Alberta.
Many relatives of the victims spoke during the hearing as well as friends. One of them was Tammy Arishenkoff who was Janet’s childhood friend.
She says Ennis should never be released, calling him a “beast” that stalked the family.
“He’s a coward that our children will never be safe from. He is the monster under our bed that we all fear…good has a duty to always fight against evil,” Arishenkoff said at the hearing.
Shelly Boden, a relative of the victims, was in Grade 12 when the murders took place.
“We never forget,” she told CTV News following the hearing.
“It’s still so fresh, years later. It’s never gone away. It never will until he dies,” Boden said.
She is relieved Ennis was again denied parole, but she worries he could be granted freedoms in the future.
“We’re just terrified that he will come after us,” she said.
Ennis is married and now works at a church. He’s also taking a program at a Bible school.
He says he has “crippling feelings of remorse and despair” over his crimes.
Diagnosed as a sexual sadist, Ennis told the parole hearing that he’s done a lot to improve himself but admits that letting his guard down could create a “high-risk scenario.”
“The most dangerous times are when I’m feeling down or depressed or if I’m having arguments or stress,” he said during the hearing.
Boden says it’s just another indication he’s not ready to be released and never will be.
“He’s totally dangerous and he has triggers,” she said.
The victims’ family worries Ennis will try getting escorted temporary absences from prison and they are prepared to do whatever they can to stop that.
“We’ll never stop the fight,” Boden said.
A petition launched online by a family friend to keep Ennis behind bars has gained more than 100,000 supporters.
Meanwhile, Ennis told the two-member parole-board that he will always be a work in progress.
“I feel while I still have opportunities to improve … I have hope.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.