Canadian Child Killer Granted Unescorted Prison Leave for Cookery Classes

Shane Ertmoed, convicted of the 2000 murder and sexual assault of 10-year-old Heather Thomas, has been granted a 60-day unescorted leave from his life sentence in Canada. The leave, approved on September 2, will allow Ertmoed to take cookery classes with a professional chef.

Thomas disappeared on October 1, 2000, while riding her bicycle in Cloverdale, British Columbia. Her body was found 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. Justice Wally Oppal described the crime as "the most horrific crime known in law," stating Ertmoed killed Thomas to satisfy his sexual desires and inflicted further indignity by disposing of her body in the lake.

Ertmoed's temporary absence was approved for "personal development for rehabilitative purposes," despite his case management team opposing the leave. The Parole Board concluded he would not pose an undue risk, although he was denied parole last year due to concerns he still posed a serious risk to the community. Restrictions have been imposed, including no contact with Thomas's family or friends, prohibitions on visiting certain municipalities, and restrictions on possessing internet-capable devices and associating with minors.

The Parole Board acknowledged the severity of Ertmoed's crimes but noted his progress in treatment and self-improvement, including taking medication to reduce sexual arousal. During his absence, Ertmoed will reside in a community residential facility with 24-hour supervision and continue rehabilitation programs. He is scheduled to work with a Red Seal Chef for 4.5-hour days, five days a week.

Thomas's family has consistently opposed any temporary release, fearing Ertmoed would re-offend. In a 2025 parole hearing, Heather's mother, Jody Aspin, expressed her ongoing trauma, stating she relives her daughter's abduction, rape, and murder daily and fears Ertmoed's continued demands for privileges. She highlighted Ertmoed's lack of remorse compared to his repeated requests.

Ertmoed admitted at a parole hearing that his harmful attractions began at age 13. He had a previous encounter in 1998 where he was arrested for sexually assaulting a seven-year-old girl he was babysitting, but the charges did not proceed. He had sought counseling then but expressed regret for not continuing it. Regarding Thomas's murder, Ertmoed stated it was not planned and that he decided to kill her when she resisted his sexual assault, prioritizing "immediate gratification." Aspin detailed the horrific details of Thomas's final moments, including how Ertmoed shoved her lifeless body into a hockey bag, drove it to avoid being seen, and later weighed it down with rocks before dumping it in Alouette Lake. She described the burn marks on her daughter's body from being moved and the ongoing psychological toll the case has taken on her family for over two decades.

The Parole Board had previously denied Ertmoed's parole, citing a lack of understanding of his crimes and a lack of honesty. He had previously been granted escorted absences in 2021 for volunteer park cleanups. The approval for Ertmoed's temporary absence followed a similar one granted to Douglas Lambier, a repeat child sex offender convicted of strangling a nine-year-old boy in 2005. Ertmoed's absence was scheduled to begin on a Monday but was postponed for an unspecified reason.