B.C. Family Launches Urgent Petition to Keep Murderer Behind Bars

BREAKING: A family in British Columbia is urgently seeking public support to prevent the release of a convicted murderer, David Shearing, now known as David Ennis, who killed six family members 43 years ago. The family has launched a petition on Change.org, aiming to gather as many signatures as possible before the February 1, 2026 deadline, when the Parole Board of Canada will consider his next parole hearing.

In August 1982, Shelley Boden, then a high school student, received the devastating news that her family had been brutally murdered while camping near Wells Gray Provincial Park. David Ennis shot her grandparents and parents before abducting her young cousins, 13-year-old Janet and 11-year-old Karen. He held them captive for a week, subjecting them to horrific abuse before killing them and setting their bodies on fire in a family car.

Boden, whose mother is Bob’s twin sister, recalls the traumatic moment as if it were yesterday. “The gut-wrenching feeling is as fresh today as it was back then,” she stated. Now, Boden and her family are determined to keep Ennis incarcerated, citing his disturbing fantasies about preying on children as a significant risk to public safety.

According to Jessica Lehman, Boden’s daughter, the Parole Board denied Ennis’ release in 2021 after recognizing his lack of rehabilitation. “The last time we fought to keep him in jail, we gathered over 100,000 signatures,” Lehman told the Clearwater Times. “That was likely the largest number they had ever received, and it made a huge impact.”

Ennis, who was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years in 1984, will be eligible for parole again in August 2026. The family is not leaving this decision to chance; they are actively promoting their petition and a form letter for citizens to send to their local MLAs, urging them to advocate against Ennis’ release.

Lehman expressed the emotional burden of reliving the past every time Ennis comes up for parole. “Keeping him locked up is essential for public safety,” she warned, emphasizing the danger he poses if released, potentially to a halfway house in North Calgary. “He has no support network; his wife has renounced him.”

The family continues to fight against the trauma they still experience. “I don’t know these people, but I would have loved them,” Lehman reflected on her late family members. “The pain is insurmountable, and my mother lives with it every day.”

As the deadline approaches, the urgency for signatures and public awareness grows. The family remains resolute in their mission to prevent this murderer from being granted freedom once again. The community’s support could play a vital role in influencing the Parole Board’s decision.

Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as the family continues their fight for justice and safety.