WATCH: Serious questions today about why a convicted murderer walked away from a minimum security prison in the Fraser Valley. Ted Chernecki reports.
For the second time in two years, a convicted murderer has escaped from the Mission Institution, a minimum-security prison in the Fraser Valley.
But the way Shawn William Merrick escaped is causing additional concerns.
An inside source told Global News that Merrick, who was serving time for the second degree murder of Shelley Lynn DeVoe, was actually returning to the facility after having run an errand to collect drugs and other supplies.
When guards tried to arrest him, Merrick fled.
Prison assistant warden Rhonda Cochrane won’t comment on the ongoing investigation, but NDP justice critic Mike Farnworth says the incident raises questions over what types of criminals are being transferred to the facility.
“This individual was a dangerous killer who murdered a young woman, callously dumped the body on Burke Moutain, was sentenced to prison,” said Farnwroth.
One would think they’d be behind bars and wouldn’t be in a position to escape.”
WATCH: Merrick escape yesterday is being investigated
Last year Norman Riel, who was serving an indeterminate sentence for second-degree murder, also escaped the institution, and there have been several other jail breaks in the past two decades.
“There are no big gates, no bars, and so guys for a variety of reasons will walk away,” says Mission Mayor Randy Hawes.
He says that while some will push for tighter regulations, there are inherent positive reasons for having a minimum-security institution.
He also says that despite the recent headlines, people in Mission aren’t too worried.
“I know the community isn’t panicked by it,” says Hawes.
“In fact people in Vancouver should be more concerned than the people who live here. Somebody breaks out a prison, they don’t hang around here, they’re gone.”
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