CALGARY – The parents of Angela Steer, slain in 2001 by escaped convict William Wade Bicknell, say the prison system has failed them by placing him in a minimum-security facility.
A Canada-wide manhunt continues for Bicknell, who overpowered the prison guard who was driving him back to Drumheller Institution from a visit with his sister in Edmonton Thursday night.
The six-foot-six, 500-pound convicted killer hasn’t been seen since.
"We’re all upside down about this. He didn’t have any reservations for killing my daughter. He’s dangerous," said Alan Hood, Steer’s father, from their home in B.C.’s Fraser Valley.
"He is the devil. He’s got everybody conned," added Steer’s mother, Marie.
The family says Correctional Services Canada’s decision to place a convicted killer in minimum security was a mistake.
"What have they got to hide other than they’ve made a mistake that we’ve told them all along?" said Marie.
Minimum security prisoners are typically not handcuffed during escorted day passes. Prison officials say privacy laws prevent them from talking about Bicknell’s status.
Calls to Drumheller Institution were not returned.
Bicknell was convicted of second-degree murder and is serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 10 years.
The Hood family has been fighting Bicknell’s bid for freedom.
The same day Hood learned his daughter’s killer was on the loose, he received word from the National Parole Board that Bicknell was inching toward freedom by requesting unescorted day passes.
A hearing is planned in July.
"We’re victimized over and over again. We argued against it. We were going to appear in person because he was asking for unescorted day passes. That’s when we said we have to fight against this."
On Thursday, while returning from an escorted day pass to visit family, Bicknell took the prison van driver hostage. He then drove the worker about 75 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, and forced his way into a rural home near the village of Chipman, 60 kilometres northeast of Edmonton. He stole the keys to a 2009 Grey Impala from the homeowner, cut the phone lines, disabled the corrections van, and vanished.
Police have since arrested his sister, who is accused of helping him escape.
Sandra Lynn Myshak, 47, is charged with aiding and abetting. She appeared in court briefly Tuesday.
Police say Bicknell was armed with a weapon and took the guard hostage at gunpoint, stealing several firearms and a quantity of ammunition.
Comments