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The man who killed 10-year-old Heather Thomas in Cloverdale more than two decades ago is at 鈥渁verage鈥� risk to reoffend sexually, according to a Parole Board decision granting his request for Escorted Temporary Absences (ETAs) from custody.

Shane Robert Ertmoed, 43, applied for the ETAs on April 7, for the purpose of completing community service.

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In a letter accompanying the application, he apologized for his actions 鈥� which included abducting, sexually assaulting and strangling Heather, then concocting an alibi before dumping her body in a lake 鈥� and provided insight into them, the decision states.

Serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, Ertmoed told the board that leading up to Heather鈥檚 Oct. 1, 2000 murder, he was dealing with 鈥渁 combination of life stressors鈥� that included financial, social, immaturity, isolation, boredom, preoccupation with sex, deviant thoughts, panic and selfishness, the decision states.

Upon arrest, Ertmoed confessed and provided a detailed description of the murder. He then recanted and appealed, maintaining his innocence until the appeal was dismissed.

The parole-board decision, rendered May 4, notes that the board weighed the severity of Ertmoed鈥檚 crime, and that his actions 鈥渟how capability for extreme violence.鈥�

鈥淵ou planned the abduction of a random young girl for the purpose of sexual assault and you carried this out. When events did not go as you expected, you killed your victim, and then took measures to avoid being caught,鈥� it reads.

鈥淭hese static factors will always be aggravating in the Board鈥檚 assessment of your case. You took an innocent life and your actions have had a profound negative impact on family members and others.鈥�

The written decision also notes that information on file regarding Ertmoed, dating back to nine years before Heather鈥檚 death, states he had demonstrated sexually inappropriate behaviour as a youth towards young girls.

Reports included that he had lifted a girl鈥檚 skirt and touched her; grabbed two girls and rubbed himself against them; placed his hand on a girl鈥檚 thigh on the school bus; sent a sexually explicit letter, described as 鈥渢hreatening,鈥� to a female teacher detailing sexual acts he wanted to perform on her; broke into the home of a female co-worker who had spurned his advances; and sexually assaulted a seven-year-old girl that he and his girlfriend were babysitting. The latter occurred four times over the course of one evening.

Heather鈥檚 mother, Jody Aspin, and Heather鈥檚 childhood best friend Katherine Charette spoke at the May 4 hearing, registering their opposition to Ertmoed鈥檚 request.

In Aspin鈥檚 statement 鈥� shared that afternoon with Peace Arch 亚洲天堂 鈥� she told the board that Ertmoed 鈥渘ot only took my daughter鈥檚 life, he took mine.鈥�

She said Ertmoed鈥檚 rights died with her daughter and appealed to the board to stop allowing him to continue victimizing her and her family.

She told PAN that the board鈥檚 decision was 鈥渂eyond disappointing.鈥�

In the written decision 鈥� released to PAN Thursday (May 13) afternoon 鈥� the board said mitigating factors they weighed included that Ertmoed has now served approximately 20 years in custody, and that he has accepted both responsibility for the crime and a correctional plan. As well, he鈥檚 earned minimum-security classification, and shown 鈥渟trong motivation鈥� by completing and showing benefit from programming objectives.

The board 鈥渟aw evidence of this progress鈥� at the hearing, the decision continues.

鈥淵ou provided examples of how your thinking has changed and how you use skills and concepts from programming. The Board finds that you have used your time in the institution productively. You have made significant progress, and this progress has resulted in risk reduction.鈥�

Letters of support for Ertmoed that the board also considered included one from a retired police officer.

鈥淭he Board finds that you will not, by reoffending, present an undue risk to society during the ETAs,鈥� the decision states. 鈥淚t is desirable for you to be absent from the penitentiary, your behaviour while under sentence does not preclude approval, and a structured plan has been prepared.鈥�

The ETAs were approved for one year, starting after COVID-19 restrictions lift. They are for up to five days per week, Monday through Friday, for no more than eight hours per day, and physical restraints will not be required.

Conditions attached include that Ertmoed have no contact with children, any of Heather鈥檚 family members or a person identified as 鈥淜.C.鈥�