Wells Gray killer asks to delay parole hearing, will request day parole

BOWDEN, ALBERTA — The family of the victims of one of B.C.’s most horrendous mass murders says the killer will be asking for day parole later this year.

In 1982 near Wells Gray Provincial Park, David Shearing killed George and Edith Bentley, their daughter Jackie and her husband Bob Johnson. He kidnapped the Johnsons’ young daughters and sexually assaulted them before killing them as well.

The family says Shearing — who now goes by the name David Ennis — asked to delay his July parole hearing until September because he’s not ready.

But they say the parole board has told them he’ll be asking for day parole and possibly to be moved to a minimum security prison.

The family says they’re in shock and are still running an online petition calling for him to be denied parole.