Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Amy Judd / Global BC

David Shearing

Wells Gray killer David Ennis denied parole for fourth time

Sep 15, 2021 | 3:45 PM

BOWDEN, AB. — The man responsible for one of B.C.’s most horrifying mass murders has been denied parole for a fourth time.

In August of 1982, David Shearing, who now goes by David Ennis, shot grandparents George and Edith Bentley and parents Bob and Jackie Johnson as they camped just outside Wells Gray Provincial Park in Clearwater.

He then abducted the Johnsons’ 13- and 11-year-old daughters, Janet and Karen, and spent several days torturing and sexually assaulting them before killing them.

He then put all six bodies into the Johnsons’ car and set it on fire.

After a long, cross-Canada investigation, Ennis was arrested and later pleaded guilty to six counts of second-degree murder.

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He was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years.

Shearing told a National Parole Board panel today the adults were killed so he could get to the eldest girl and her younger sister just happened to be there.

Ennis also admitted to killing a teenager before the murders and said getting away with that crime made it easier to escalate his behaviour.

(With files from The Canadian Press)