The day Shearings trial was set to begin, he changed his mind and pled guilty to six counts of second-degree murder for the 1982 Johnson and Bentley families. An investigation revealed deep secrets and a grudge Sarah had been holding over her parents. On the morning of the 2nd of September, 2003, 16-year-oldSarah Marie Johnsonfrom Bellevue, Idaho, ran to her neighbors home in hysterics. Mary Lea was born in 1926 to blue-eyed, titian-haired society girl Ruth Dill Johnson, the first of the three wives of J. Seward Johnson, a playboy and one of the early barons of the then family . The RCMP started questioning possible suspects again in Clearwater. During an exorcism at the Glatzel house, Johnson allegedly challenged the devil to enter him in order to protect David, which Johnson claimed the devil did. In the back seat were the incinerated remains of the four adults and, in the trunk, were the two girls. They did not, in any way, provoke him. The truck was well hidden and it appeared that there had been an attempt to drive the truck into the gorge, but logs had blocked its path. The burnt remnants provided no clues, but the location was of interest. He was taken into custody for questioning. He told the girls to turn around so he could urinate, then shot each sister in the back of the head. He told the girls to turn around so he could urinate, then shot each sister in the back of the head. However, many were perplexed that the sentences were concurrent, giving him the chance to escape the prison system in later life. And if you happen to find yourself in Harris, Minnesota, make sure to stop into the Kaffe Stuga for a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, even the group that took on Jesse James and Butch Cassidy may have met their match. For example, two scruffy French-Canadian men were seen driving in a camper van east towards Quebec but it turned out this was an unrelated vehicle. In rich detail, he lays out clue after clue, True Crime Tuesday Podcast interview with Brian Johnson, If you pay attention, you can tell when someones lying. Interview with Brian Johnson Tom Barnard Show. There are no ameliorating or mitigating factors. When they opened the door, they discovered Johnson,. Eerily, a crucifix that fell from the wall lay on top of the murder weapon. Were proud to honor those men and women. He took the bodies back to the Johnson family car, which hed hidden and put the girls bodies in the trunk. Edward Wayne Edwards Wikipedia Edwards killed at least 5 and is suspected of many other murders. See the latest list of Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, Read more True Crime Stories from StrangeOutdoors, Gary Michael Hilton - The disturbing case of the National Forest Serial Killer, Highway of Tears in British Columbia, Canada, Amy Wroe Bechtel - disturbing disappearances in U.S. forests, The real "Wolf Creek" - the disturbing case of the backpacker murders in the Australian Outback, The Cowden Family - Strange and disturbing murders in the U.S. wilderness, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Gray_Provincial_Park, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Gray_Provincial_Park_Family_Murders, http://dyingwords.net/david-shearing-the-monster-from-wells-gray-park/#sthash.hUyyi6wR.PxXToWpg.dpbs, http://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/shearing-david.htm, https://www.lelandhale.com/wordpress/startling-development-british-columbia/, https://christopherdiarmani.com/14874/crime/canadian-mass-murders/david-william-shearing-slaughtered-family-of-six-in-wells-gray-provincial-park/, The Seventh Shadow: The Wilderness Manhunt for a Brutal Mass Murderer by Michael Eastham and Ian McLeod (1999, Paperback), The Wells Gray Gunman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unFwrrYLZH8, The Detectives The Wells Gray Gunman S1 E1 (Canada only)https://watch.cbc.ca/the-detectives/season-1/episode-1/38e815a-00d94f07a15, Tagged: The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders in Canada, wells gray provincial park murders, johnson and bennett murders canada, The canadian camping ground murders, johnson family murders wells gray park, bob johnson and jackie johnson murders wells gray, janet johnson and karen johnson murdered wells gray, david william shearing serial killer wells gray park, wells gray park camping murders canada, family murders wells gray park canada, George Bentley and Edith Bentley murders wells gray park, Sign up now for a one-time fee for access to over 55 exclusive member articles, The mysterious death of Carol Laughlin in Yosemite National Park, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders, Exclusive members-only articles on StrangeOutdoors.com, The disturbing story of David Shearing and the Wells Gray Park camping murders in Canada, bob johnson and jackie johnson murders wells gray, janet johnson and karen johnson murdered wells gray, david william shearing serial killer wells gray park, George Bentley and Edith Bentley murders wells gray park, The horrific rape and murder of Sophie Louise Hook whilst camping in her Uncle's garden, The miracle rescue of Alan Lee Phillips at Colorados Guanella Pass - the man who turned out to be a serial killer, The chilling story of Thomas Lee Dillon - the Ohio Outdoorsmen killer, The miraculous escape of the Brazilian and German backpackers at Salt Creek in South Australia, Robert Hansen Butcher Baker - the Alaska Serial killer who hunted his victims in the wilderness, The shocking unsolved Keddie Cabin murders, The disturbing death of Fiona Torbet in the Scottish highlands, The unsolved Williams and Winans camping murders in Shenandoah National Park, The real Wolf Creek - The Backpacker Murders in the Australian Outback, The frightening case of the Trailside Killer David Carpenter, The mysterious Koh Tao - Death Island in Paradise, The Yosemite National Park Sightseer Murders and the two faces of evil, The disturbing disappearance of the Beaumont children on Glenelg Beach, The Kamloops Triangle - The British Columbia murders and disappearances, The Delphi hiking murders - Abigail Williams and Liberty German, The Peter Falconio disappearance in the Australian Outback, The unsolved murder of Scott Lilly on the Appalachian trail, The disturbing case of James Jordan - The Appalachian Trail Murderer. Judge, I would like to see the maximum sentence because after tomorrow I dont want to have to hear about her or this event again. Following Shearings conviction, RCMP Sergeant Mike Eastham re-interviewed him and got the disturbing truth behind the killings - pedophilia. Here at Crime Capsule, we spend a lot of time looking at the criminals involved in heinous deeds (rather, misdeeds). Mary Johnson, 77; her husband, Thomas Johnson, 81; and her son David Johnson, 43, were all found stabbed to death at their home at 270 Cedar St. in Clifton on Jan. 9, 1993. The family last contacted relatives on August 6 when Edith called a second daughter, according to retired RCMP Sgt. We had no reason to suspect him.. The location re-confirmed a local was most likely involved as outsiders would have been unlikely to find the isolated spot. While they stayed in the tent, he said, he loaded the bodies of their parents and grandparents into the back seat of the family car and covered the bodies with a blanket. Leibel found them next to a second set, JJ, for 13-year-old Janet Johnson. On November 19, 1983, The RCMP found Shearing in Tumbler Ridge, north of Kamloops, where he was due to appear in court in a few days on a possession of stolen property charge of a significant amount of tools. In the meantime, online and paper petitions got 15,258 signatures urging the parole board not to release him. Hes always worked hard and he always saw that I had everything. William Shearing, Davids father, died from cancer on March 19, 1982, about six months before the murders. The media referred to the tragedy as the Wells Gray Park murders, but the actual site of the familys massacre was just outside the park entrance. This was very unusual for the 25-year employee. It had been burned using an accelerant, probably gasoline mixed with something else. "At times, the facts surrounding the mystery bounce through my head like the silver orb in a pinball machine. He repeated the process with Janet, the older daughter, on August 17, 1982. But for a cruel act of fate, those two precious little girls would be alive today.. Other theories point to Albin poisoning the family. More than 85 years later, Alvira's great-nephew insists the one-day discrepancy between the gravestone and death certificate was no typo or goof. Alexander Jackson, 20, is charged with three counts of murder in the triple homicide at the home in Cedar Rapids, KCRG reported, citing police. The family lived in Glen Aspen Drive, an affluent street where the $500,000 homes sit nestled among towering cottonwood, pine and aspen trees.1. The Johnsons and Bentleys were last heard from on August 6th, 1982. Tuesday's post-conviction. He said he cleaned the campsite, then took the truck/camper back to his nearby property, only to burn it later when he discovered how difficult it was to re-register. An investigation of the crime scene turned up a discarded bathrobe and blood-stained latex glove that had been hidden in the garbage can outside the home. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Wells Gray area was a valued hunting ground to the Secwepemc (Shuswap),Tsilhqot'in (Chilcotin)and Canim Lake aboriginal groups. Eastham later wrote a book with Ian McLeod about the case called The Seventh Shadow, in which the author goes into great detail about all aspects of the case. The enormity of the crimes demand the maximum sentence.. The Chisago County Press reported her body was lying near the crib of 4-month-old James her youngest. On the 29th of August, Sarah hadnt come home and claimed she was staying overnight at a friends. The Johnson Family Murders Pt. The burnt remnants provided no clues, but the location was of interest. Penny Boudreau murdered her 12-year-old daughter, Karissa, because she believed it would save her relationship On the 16th of June, 2009, 2-year-old Jada Justice vanished. The family of the father, husband and son killed in 1998 is fighting to keep his memory alive. Seven Questions for Keith Roysdon, author of The Westside Park Murders, Convicting Serial Killer Roy Melanson: The Shoddy SODDI Defense, Giovanni Chiesa: Immigrant, Miner, Martyr. The RCMP also learned through Shearings closest friend, Ross Coburn, that he was with him when he ran over drunk lying on a Wells Gray Park road in 1980, killing him. Fellow workers reported that Bob was missing to the RCMP on August 23, 1982. Their time near the beautiful Wells Gray Park was cut short by a sadistic, brutal killer obsessed with young girls. "I think her family, who presumably ordered the marker, was making a statement that they'd been murdered on the 10th before the house was torched in the early hours of the 11th," says Richfield author Brian Johnson. Carrie Johnson is calling for Robert Brown to be kept behind bars after he killed Joanna Simpson Credit: Getty. Sadly it was the last family vacation they were ever to go on. Some beer caps of the brand known to be drunk by Bob Johnson were also found as well as full bottles cooling in a nearby stream. We do not really know, but it seems it was to rob and kill. He took the bodies back to the Johnson family car, which hed hidden and put the girls bodies in the trunk. Harold, the oldest of her five boys and two girls, was only 10. Very sad situation. While they stayed in the tent, he said, he loaded the bodies of their parents and grandparents into the back seat of the family car and covered the bodies with a blanket. Locals had seen the family camped at Bear Creek and a search of the area by the RCMP resulted in six spent .22 caliber ammunition shells being located. The guard noticed nothing unusual. David Shearings mother, Rose Shearing, expressed shock at the news of her sons arrest and conviction for murdering six people.I hope its a bad mistake or a bad dream. The RCMP started questioning possible suspects again in Clearwater. The Johnsons and Bentleys were last heard from on August 6th, 1982. There was a Winchester rifle on the bedroom floor which was typically kept in an adjoining guest house. The media referred to the tragedy as the Wells Gray Park murders, but the actual site of the familys massacre was just outside the park entrance. Did Government Officials Cover Up a Lethal Ohio School Poisoning? Police lifted the wreck out with a helicopter and transported it to the RCMP Crime Lab in Vancouver. Despite his reputation and criminal record, Shearing came from a respectable family. The accident was never reported to the police. of both murders. PALESTINE, Texas (KLTV) - A Houston Man is wanted for Murder after a Palestine woman was shot and killed Thursday night, police say. The 54-year-old attorney is standing trial on two counts of murder in the shootings of his wife and son at their Colleton County, S.C., home and hunting lodge on June 7, 2021. Instead, Shatiek Johnson is up for parole after serving nearly 25 years in prison. He came to the door of the cabin to tell Shearing not to be alarmed. However, entire families are sometimes murdered by a lone psychopath or somebody bent on revenge. The National Parole Board ruled that he still had violent sexual fantasies and hadn't completed sex offender treatment. He first toyed with writing a novel, but "I could never make up anything as compelling as the true story of the Albin Johnson case. She was also a victim of domestic abuse. Marvin was tried and convicted of double-homicide in 2013, Jenelle and Barbara in 2015 in a joint trial. In August, 1982, Shearing shot dead George, 66, and Edith Bentley, 59, of Port Coquitlam, B.C., their daughter Jackie Johnson, 40, son-in-law Bob, 44, and grandchildren Janet, 13, and Karen, 11, of Kelowna as the family camped in Wells Gray Provincial Park, 75 km north of Kamloops. When police were questioned why they didnt seize the firearm and test it to see if casings fired from it matched those found at the scene, Inspector Vic Edwards cited basic rights. Johnson's brother, Anthony, 22, and a family friend, Michael Gunn, 27, are serving life sentences after having been found guilty of first-degree murder in separate trials for their involvement in . Prosecutor Thomas said that despite the fact that Sarah was being charged as an adult, he wouldnt be seeking the death penalty. Then, RCMP Constable Ken Leibel hiked through the bush to the fishing cabin. And indeed, ultimately, Albin was never found. That was just money lost, paying them for nothing, said Jeanette Johnson, Alviras niece.. In September 2008, David Shearing was up for parole - 24 years after his conviction for the murders. This case is at the upper range of culpability. and its not this Christopher character. how do you become so self absorbed that murdering your parents doesnt even phase you? I knelt down, and I shot the other two.. David Shearing finally told Sgt. The Bender Family. Alex Murdaugh, right . He told the RCMP that he loaded the bodies into their car, drove it by night to the mountainside, and set it on fire using five gallons of gasoline. However, investigators had sealed off the street and turned away the garbage truck which was making it rounds shortly after the shooting. At first, the 1981 murder of Alan Bono appeared to be an open-and-shut case in Brookfield, Connecticut. It Might Now Be Time For Sarah To Make Her Escape From Prison,Perhaps Similar To How It Was Done In The Shawshank Redemption,Except Maybe She Could Use A Poster Of Michael Jackson To Hide The Opening To Her Freedom. When entire families are murdered, it's often a case of familicide, in which the mass murderer is a family member. He knew they were camped at the site and carefully scouted the situation. Following Shearings conviction, RCMP Sergeant Mike Eastham re-interviewed him and got the disturbing truth behind the killings - pedophilia. I put the bodies in the car, four in the back seat, and the two little ones in the trunk. The logging road was near Battle Mountain Road, thirteen aerial miles from Bear Creek and north of the town of Clearwater. The victims were unknown to the prisoner. I think you sexually abused those girls before you killed them. This is how I know that Sarah Marie Johnson is not guilty of the murders of her Parents,Alan Scott Johnson & Diane Marie Johnson. Her defense, however, was alleging that it was Bruno who had killed Alan and Diane. Albin's relatives accused authorities of botching the investigation, insisting Albin died in the fire. Im just gonna destroy your entire argument with 1 clue Dianes sister (Diane was Sarahs mother) gave detectives. To double-check the story, Eastham found the prison guard. Of all the things I miss, I miss their hugs their bear hugs, said Matt Johnson. The logging road was near Battle Mountain Road, thirteen aerial miles from Bear Creek and north of the town of Clearwater. KELOWNA, B.C. Despite his reputation and criminal record, Shearing came from a respectable family. 2. Shearing accidentally admitted to Eastham that he had heard the murders were committed at Bear Creek which was not information that had been released to the public. CREATIVE. The cover of Flagstaff's Walkup Family Murders: A. Readers can send him ideas and suggestions at mnhistory@startribune.com. She was subsequently sentenced to two concurrent life terms plus 15 years for a firearm enhancement. The fire that killed Alvira Johnson: Depression-era murder, or tragic accident? We also have evidence part of his previous record has been purged, said defense lawyer, Robert Pangburn. In advance of the campers arrival at each town or city, police held press conferences to publicize the campers arrival. The case took another turn on Sept. 7, 2021, when PEOPLE reported that members of Alex's law firm had confronted him about missing money on Sept. 3 . Most worrying of all was the fact that Albin Johnson, Alviras husband, was nowhere to be found. Tragically, some of these rare cases are never solved. Sometimes, however, a case needs a little more manpower than the public sector can provide. The day prior to the shootings Dianes sister testified that just the day before the murders, Sarah had asked for the keys to the gun safe.. Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. Well, Im here to collect, David, and Im not taking no for an answer.. The Johnson Family Murders Pt. According to Sarah, she was asleep in her bedroom when she heard gunshots echo out. Walter E. Ellis Wikipedia Ellis, known as the Milwaukee North Side Strangler, raped and strangled at least 7 women. When Kim Richards opened her front door, Sarah screamed that somebody had shot her parents, Diane and Alan Johnson. Heather Ennis claims her husband deserves a second chance, I have seen so much change in this man since we met (in 1993). Over 1,300 alleged sightings were investigated, but all turned out to be false. Because of the location of the vehicle in an accessible area, it was quickly assumed that a local was responsible for the murders. Imagine going to the extremes to be with a man only to try and blame him afterwards. The same as I didnt have any right to go into Mr. Shearings house. Sarah Didnt Do It,She Did Not Pull The Trigger. The sentence I impose, in conjunction with such matters as protection of the public and specific deterrence, must have proper regard for public opinion and must express, in clear terms, the revulsion felt by the great majority of our citizens for this senseless and vicious mass killing. The following story was inspired by Murder in Chisago County: The Unsolved Johnson Family Mystery by Brian Johnson, who chronicles the investigation of his great-uncle Albin Johnson and the still-unsolved, suspicious death of Albin's wife Alvira and their seven children in 1933. Greg Shearing, Davids brother, said I have a lot of questions Id like to ask the police, too. A prison guard was supervising prisoners from a local jail who were fishing on the river. Locals had seen the family camped at Bear Creek and a search of the area by the RCMP resulted in six spent .22 caliber ammunition shells being located. The prosecution refuted the claims that Bruno was involved, stating that there was absolutely no evidence to connect him to the crime scene or even the home. There was quite a bit of carnage, recalled Tremble.3. Shearing initially stated in his confession that he shot the four adults as they sat around their campfire, then shot the girls as they slept in the tent, saying he only wanted to rob them.