The Parole Board of Canada claimed that the suspect involved in the largest mass stabbing in Canadian history was not a risk to public safety in February.
A manhunt is currently underway to find Myles Sanderson after him and his since deceased brother Damien Sanderson killed 11 people and injured 19 at 13 locations around the James Smith Cree Nation and the nearby village of Weldon, northeast of Saskatoon.
Global News is now reporting that parole officers claimed that Sanderson was a “law-abiding citizen” when freeing him.
“The Board is satisfied that your risk is manageable in the community, if you live with your [redacted] maintain sobriety and employment, and continue with developing supports, including getting therapy,” wrote the board.
Sanderson has a storied criminal past including drug charges and gang associations. He is currently being sought for three counts of first-degree murder.
In total, the 31-year-old Sanderson has been convicted of 59 different crimes. His violent past includes threatening somebody with a gun before forcing him to rob a restaurant in Nov. 2017.
Sanderson was also arrested in June 2018 by police. During the arrest, Sanderson assaulted a police officer by kicking them in the head.
He was sent to federal prison for four years but in Feb. 2021 was placed into an Indigenous healing lodge and eventually freed by Aug. 2021.
“To your benefit, you do seem to have maintained sobriety, obtained employment, engaged a therapist, were engaged in cultural ceremonies, had obtained a home for your family, and appeared to have been making good progress on reintegration,” parole officers claimed.
“It is the Board’s opinion that you will not present an undue risk to society if released on statutory release and that your release will contribute to the protection of society by facilitating your reintegration into society as a law abiding citizen.”
Sanderson’s clean stint didn’t last long and by May of this year, Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers declared him “unlawfully at large” prior to the stabbing spree.
“Considering your Indigenous background, the Board notes that there are factors from your background that may have contributed to your involvement in the criminal justice system,” wrote the Parole Board.
On Monday, Regina Police Chief Evan Bray stated that authorities were “very confident” the suspect was in Regina. The manhunt for Sanderson is still ongoing.
