Monstrous Murder Family of 6 found dead in

Monstrous Murder: Family of 6 found dead in Well’s Gray Provincial park

Summary • The Johnson – Bentley family were reported missing on August 23, 1982. • The Family was on a trip in Wells Gray Park, BC. • Family consisted of: • Bob Johnson, 44 & Jackie Johnson, 41 • The Daughters, Janet, 13 & Karen, 11. • Jackie’s parents, George Bentley, 66 & Edith Bentley, 59. ADD A FOOTER 2

Beginning of the case. • September 13, “a mushroom picker reported finding a burned-out car near Battle Mountain Road in a clearing off a mountainside logging road with the driver's side door open, thirteen aerial miles from Bear Creek and north of the town of Clearwater. ” (1) • The parents and grandparents had been shot, placed in the back seat, and the vehicle burned. The two girls were found in the trunk of the family vehicle. ADD A FOOTER 3

Initial Forensics • Pathologist analyzed the bones, determined them to be human. • Dental analysis used to identify the victims as the Johnson-Bentley’s. • Vehicle was taken into the lab to determine what fuel was used to enhance the fire. • Bone fragments showed that the family had been shot with a. 22 caliber gun. ADD A FOOTER 4

Second Crime Scene • Fourteen months later, the camper was found burned. • Another ballistic analysis lead to the finding of a. 22 bullet hole on the truck attached to the camper. • Both scenes were remote, and so RCMP suspected that the murderer was local and knew the area. • Locals were re-interviewed with lie detector tests. ADD A FOOTER 5

First Lead • Local notified the RCMP that David William Shearing “enquired about how to re-register a Ford pickup and repair a hole in its door. ” (1) • Police located Shearing in Tumbler Ridge, BC. • Shearing was taken into custody and interviewed. ADD A FOOTER 6

Confession • Shearing first confessed to a hit and run that had happened previously in Wells Gray Park. • During questioning, Shearing mentioned the location of the murder, which had not been disclosed to the public. • He then confessed to the murder and described how it happened. ADD A FOOTER 7

The Crime • “Shearing claimed the murder occurred on August 10, 1982. He said he’d been watching the family and had wanted their possessions. He shot George, Edith, Bob and Jackie first, before turning the gun on Karen and Janet as they slept in the tent. He then put the bodies in the car and drove it to the spot where it was discovered before setting it ablaze and returning for the camper. He had initially wanted to keep it, but upon seeing news coverage had decided to get rid of it. ” (3) • Shearing provided the murder weapon, and it was forensically matched to the ammunition found on the scene. ADD A FOOTER 8

Sentencing • Arrested for second-degree murder. • April 17, 1984 Shearing was sentenced to life in prison with no parole for 25 years. • Shearing got the first maximum sentence in Canada for second-degree murder. • He has been eligible for parole in 2008, 2012, and 2014. Shearing has been denied all 3 attempts. ADD A FOOTER 9

New Information • After the arrest, the detective went and visited Shearing. • The detective discovered that Shearing has kept the girls for almost a week and a half. • During that time, he sexually assaulted the girls. • Shearing shot both of the girls in the head later, and returned them to the car, shoving the girls in the trunk. ADD A FOOTER 10