A quarter of a century after a violent murder shocked the small Alberta town of Okotoks, the devastated family of Stephanie Spooner is speaking out about their grief and pain.
Spooner’s brother, Rene, was only 12 years old when his sister was killed.
“She could have been anything she wanted to be. She was smart, beautiful. Everybody wanted to be like her.”
The convicted killer responsible for the 16-year-old’s murder had asked the National Parole Board for more freedoms. They were granted Sept. 8.
Bradley Paetsch was just a teenager himself when he stabbed Spooner to death in her own home. He was jealous after she moved on and obsessed over their breakup. He admitted to the crime back in 1991 and was sentenced to life without any chance of parole for 25 years.
Rene Spooner is haunted by the crime.
“She was scared for her life. I couldn’t imagine what was going through her mind when he did show up…poor girl.”
Over the past several years, Paetsch got married in prison, was granted escorted leaves and was recently authorized to have unescorted temporary absences. Despite the board members’ own concerns over his violent tendencies and risks, they still allowed it.
Spooner’s sister-in-law, Robin, says the justice system has failed their family.
“My husband never gets to see his sister again and his father never got the opportunity to walk his daughter down the aisle,” she said. “Our kids won’t ever have an aunt because of that.”
“It’s sickening; it’s absolutely sickening.”
Paetsch has now changed his name to Tristan Ryan. The parole board will re-assess his unescorted temporary absences after six months.