Shane Ertmoed, convicted of the 2000 sexual assault and murder of 10-year-old Heather Thomas, has been granted a 60-day unescorted temporary absence from prison. The leave, which began September 2, is for rehabilitative purposes, allowing Ertmoed to participate in cookery classes with a renowned chef.
Thomas disappeared on October 1, 2000, while riding her bicycle in Cloverdale, British Columbia. Her body was discovered three weeks later in a hockey bag pulled from Alouette Lake. Ertmoed, then 24, was convicted in 2002 of sexually assaulting and murdering the child. At the time of the verdict, Justice Wally Oppal described Ertmoed's crime as 'the most horrific crime known in law.'
Ertmoed was denied parole last year, with the Parole Board previously concluding he posed a risk of serious harm to the community. Despite his case management team opposing the current leave, the Parole Board approved the 60-day absence, stating they concluded he would not pose an undue risk.
Restrictions have been placed on Ertmoed for his leave, including no contact with Thomas's family or friends. He is also barred from visiting specific municipalities in British Columbia and several other provinces. Further conditions prohibit him from possessing sexually explicit material, spending time with minors under 18 without supervision, owning internet-capable devices without approval, and require him to report any relationships with women to his supervisor.
The Parole Board acknowledged the severity of his crimes but noted his progress in treatment and self-improvement, including taking medication to reduce sexual arousal, a treatment he had previously declined. During his absence, Ertmoed will reside in a community residential facility under 24-hour supervision and continue rehabilitation programs.
Thomas's family has consistently opposed any form of release or temporary absence, expressing fears of reoffending. Jody Aspin, Thomas's mother, has shared her ongoing trauma, stating she relives the details of her daughter's abduction, rape, and murder daily. She has criticized the parole system for not prioritizing victims' considerations.
Ertmoed's past parole hearings revealed details about his attractions beginning in his teens. He was previously arrested at age 19 for sexually assaulting a child he was babysitting, though charges did not proceed, and he instead sought counseling. He later expressed regret for not continuing that counseling.
Regarding Thomas's murder, Ertmoed stated he did not plan to kill her, acting on 'immediate gratification' when she resisted. He admitted to killing her when she fought back. Victim impact statements from Aspin detailed the agonizing process of discovering and identifying her daughter's body and the continued emotional distress caused by Ertmoed's ongoing legal proceedings.
In his 2025 parole hearing, Ertmoed offered an apology, stating he did not want to hurt anyone else again. He had previously been granted escorted absences in 2021 for volunteer work. Shortly after Ertmoed's leave was granted, the Parole Board also approved a similar absence for Douglas Lambier, convicted in the 2005 strangulation of a nine-year-old boy. Ertmoed's temporary absence was set to begin on a Monday but was postponed for an unspecified reason.