Community Outrage: High-Risk Offender's Unescorted Passes

0:00Friends, Susan Tom and Kim Oyster Camelton created 40 buttons to remember their friend Darren Peppin on the 40th anniversary of his murder. Back in 1986, the 14-year-old high school student was tortured, sexually assaulted, and killed just after starting classes. The killer, Darren Scott Ray, was 26 at the time and got convicted of first-degree murder in 1987. He's now 65 and serving a life sentence at a minimum security prison. Here this month, he used a 72-hour, unescorted pass to stay at a residential spot in Oshawa, with two more passes available within the next, 12 months. Tom and Oyster Camelton were furious about Ray entering their community, calling even a manageable risk to dangerous for such a violent offender. They shared memories of Peppin as a friendly, smiling kid who got along with everyone. Meanwhile, Whitby Regional Counselor Chris Leighy raised the issue at a council meeting Monday night. He pushed the motion urging the parole board of Canada to require advanced notice to

1:02municipalities for high-risk offender releases and started A, petition aimed at the federal minister of public safety. Local leaders hope to block future passes for Ray, while pushing for broader policy changes to keep communities informed and safe. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Canada News Today, AI-powered local news.