An Isolated Incident

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
3
36
London, Ontario
Gavin Mandin released on parole after murdering his family



Colette Mandin-Kossowan knew there was a chance her mass murdering nephew Gavin Mandin could be granted day parole at his next hearing.
But when it finally happened on Oct. 31, 2012, it still came as a surprise.
“I suspected that he would. He was going through all the steps that are normal for the release of somebody from prison,” said Mandin-Kossowan from her Edmonton-area home. “Given the crime that he’s committed and the fact that the conditions on his release are about relationships, and that there is a moderate risk of re-offending, that’s where the surprise comes in.”
News of Mandin’s release is very unsettling for his surviving family members who’ve suffered life-long effects due to Gavin’s violent actions on Aug. 6, 1991.
On that day, his family, who lived in St. Albert, had just returned to their vacation property near Valleyview from a shopping trip. Mandin, 15 at the time, was perched at a window inside the home and shot his step-father Maurice in the head as he got out of the family car. He then fired shots at his mother Susan, who remained in the car with his two younger sisters, Islay and Janelle.
Gavin came out of the house, shooting his mother and father again, then firing at his sisters at close range. The victims were shot multiple times. Gavin continued to fire the gun even after it was empty.
He cut open his mother’s clothes with a knife, exposing her naked body. Bound with a rope behind a motorized bike, Gavin dragged his step-father’s body for nearly a mile to a meadow and returned home. He then drove the vehicle with his murdered mother and sisters to a nearby tree-line and left it there.
Mandin stayed at the property for another day and a half before he left in the family van. Police attempted to stop him over concerns with his driving, but he fled the scene, sparking a high-speed chase and was later arrested.
Mandin pleaded not guilty to the killings and was convicted of four counts of second degree murder. The court tried him as an adult in 1994 and sentenced him to life with no eligibility for parole for 10 years.
In July 2001, Mandin applied for full parole, but was denied.
“It is of great concern that you display to those who deal with you little remorse for your crimes or empathy for your sisters, mother and step-father,” wrote the board in its decision, noting Mandin displayed narcissistic tendencies consistent with abnormal personality traits.
According to the parole board, Mandin developed hatred towards his mother at a very young age. He felt she was demanding, had high expectations of him, and he blamed her for all his negative experiences. He craved her love but he rejected her attempts to reach out to him.
As Mandin became a teen, his anger grew, causing him to withdraw and bury himself in books and video games.
When his family was out shopping that day in August 1991, Mandin stayed behind, ruminating over perceived injustices.
Earlier psychological and psychiatric assessments suggested Mandin was psychopathic. This was disputed in a later report that suggested the shooting was an isolated incident.
Mandin-Kossowan was one of the relatives who attended the July 2001 hearing, hoping to see signs of compassion in Mandin’s eyes. But he wouldn’t meet her eyes. In fact, Mandin refused to look at any relatives and had his back to them the entire time.
Mandin was soon moved to a prison in Ontario, making it difficult for the relatives to attend hearings. In 2009 and 2011, he was authorized a series of unescorted temporary absences to a halfway house.
Dates for the October 2012 hearing were changed without much notice, said Mandin-Kossowan, making it difficult to see for herself if there has been any progress.
“We chose not to go because it railroads your time and it throws you right back into the throngs of everything,” she said.
Now 36 years old, Mandin goes by the name Gavin Ian Maclean — the name of his biological father, who split with his mother when he was a child.
As part of his release, he is to have no contact with any of the victim’s families, with the exception of one person who’s supported him from the beginning.
Any attempts to initiate a relationship with a female must be reported to his parole supervisor, and he must attend counselling to assist in re-entering a society he’s been absent from for 21 years.
“During your hearing you impressed as being candid and open about why you offended as you did and how you have come to terms with your actions,” stated the board in its decision to grant day parole. “You have not been able to rationally explain why you killed your sisters but it appears that you will never fully explain this action.”
Numerous psychological and psychiatric reports on file identify Mandin as a low risk for violent offending and a low-moderate risk for general offending. It’s not known where he is residing, but family believes he’s still in Ontario.

Gavin Mandin released on parole after murdering his family | Edmonton | News | Edmonton Sun

Earlier psychological and psychiatric assessments suggested Mandin was psychopathic. This was disputed in a later report that suggested the shooting was an isolated incident.
An isolated incident. That makes it all sound so not horrific doesn't it? Maybe it's just me but I can't understand how someone who is unable to rationally explain murdering his 10 and 12 year old sisters in cold blood is the same someone who is low risk for violent offending. I'm also wondering why any attempts to begin a relationship with a female must first be reported to his parole officer. Possibly something to do with fear of misogynistic homicidal tendencies?

This just feels unsettling to me.
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
3
36
London, Ontario
I've honestly never heard of this guy nor this murder before but there is just something about his release that is giving me real chills.
 

karrie

OogedyBoogedy
Jan 6, 2007
27,780
285
83
bliss
Yeah, you wouldn't have heard of it SLM. We didnt really have the net when it happened. And it happened 'between communities'. They didn't live in Sunset House, where it happened. They were vacationers. And it didn't happen in St.Albert, where they lived. It was this surreal horror story that felt like no community owned it. The teens were all left whispering about the few details they'd gleaned from parents, stolen newspaper clippings, etc. but a lot of it (did he rape his mom? Why would he strip her?) was left to mere whispers and wondering. Our parents likely knew a lot more, but they weren't talking. It doesn't seem that long ago, but it's farmers and oil patch, stoic, tight lipped and old fashioned. amazing the difference in what we had available for media even.
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
3
36
London, Ontario
Yeah, you wouldn't have heard of it SLM. We didnt really have the net when it happened. And it happened 'between communities'. They didn't live in Sunset House, where it happened. They were vacationers. And it didn't happen in St.Albert, where they lived. It was this surreal horror story that felt like no community owned it. The teens were all left whispering about the few details they'd gleaned from parents, stolen newspaper clippings, etc. but a lot of it (did he rape his mom? Why would he strip her?) was left to mere whispers and wondering. Our parents likely knew a lot more, but they weren't talking. It doesn't seem that long ago, but it's farmers and oil patch, stoic, tight lipped and old fashioned. amazing the difference in what we had available for media even.

The piece about him stripping his mom after killing her brings to mind every piece I've ever read about the way in which a homicide victim is left/displayed and what that tells investigators about the murderer. My general understanding is the more vulgar and crass a body is displayed, the more rage the killer is showing and the indication is the killer is able to, with relative ease, totally dehumanize his victim. That he was able to do this at fifteen and then also dispatch the other members of his family, some of which he's offered no explanation for, chills me to the bone.

Basically he's now at the prime of his adult life, no longer an awkward teenager prone to emotional outbursts. I sincerely fear for any woman who crosses his path. I don't think that kind of blind hatred and disregard for life simply goes away.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
547
113
Vernon, B.C.
Maybe we should get together and get the "wheels turning" to enact a new law. Where a possibly dangerous person is parolled the guy who signs off on it, has to personally house the parolee for his first five years of release. Bet that would put an end to that nonsense. If a shrink proclaims him/her cured then the shrink shares in the housing arrangement-:)
 

SLM

The Velvet Hammer
Mar 5, 2011
29,151
3
36
London, Ontario
Maybe we should get together and get the "wheels turning" to enact a new law. Where a possibly dangerous person is parolled the guy who signs off on it, has to personally house the parolee for his first five years of release. Bet that would put an end to that nonsense. If a shrink proclaims him/her cured then the shrink shares in the housing arrangement-:)


I don't know what the answer is, to be honest. Maybe it is even possible that he's "changed" or bettered himself, you or I can't say with absolute certainty. But even if that is the case, the way they release/parole prisoners into the public feels so quiet and secretive it automatically makes people suspicious.

And I'm not an expert in mental health or rehabilitation by any stretch, but I do know that some people do very well in an institutional setting. A model prisoner does not always equate to a model citizen. Also the vast number of very contradictory psychiatric reports raises alarms in me too. I think a lot of times when you are assessing someone within the setting of an institution, you really are looking at them in a vacuum. Even with tons of training and experience, how can there be conclusions reached as to how ready they truly are to be out amongst the public again?

I think the very real and rational fear of recidivism of violent offenders coupled with the lack of information in how they are released speaks to the need for some kind of change or reform in that part of the system.
 

JLM

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 27, 2008
75,301
547
113
Vernon, B.C.
I don't know what the answer is, to be honest. Maybe it is even possible that he's "changed" or bettered himself, you or I can't say with absolute certainty. But even if that is the case, the way they release/parole prisoners into the public feels so quiet and secretive it automatically makes people suspicious.

And I'm not an expert in mental health or rehabilitation by any stretch, but I do know that some people do very well in an institutional setting. A model prisoner does not always equate to a model citizen. Also the vast number of very contradictory psychiatric reports raises alarms in me too. I think a lot of times when you are assessing someone within the setting of an institution, you really are looking at them in a vacuum. Even with tons of training and experience, how can there be conclusions reached as to how ready they truly are to be out amongst the public again?

I think the very real and rational fear of recidivism of violent offenders coupled with the lack of information in how they are released speaks to the need for some kind of change or reform in that part of the system.

Absolutely! and often the most deranged ones have brilliant minds and that combined with years of time on their hands can contribute to a lot of scheming! If a person "cracks up" and assault someone, sure he deserves another chance, assassinating a whole family..................no way Jose!
 

Nuggler

kind and gentle
Feb 27, 2006
11,596
140
63
Backwater, Ontario.
:canada: Wiping out your whole family "an isolated incident".............only in Kanadar.......pity........


But really, the only thing the death penalty does (other than piss folks off), is make sure the perp doesn't perp again.
 

Sal

Hall of Fame Member
Sep 29, 2007
17,135
33
48
:canada: Wiping out your whole family "an isolated incident".............only in Kanadar.......pity........


But really, the only thing the death penalty does (other than piss folks off), is make sure the perp doesn't perp again.
Yes that line about it being an isolated incident was quite interesting. Could it be because they removed the bait?

I don't know what to think. My initial reaction is no, absolutely no release. But then, is our justice system to be merely about punishment because that clearly doesn't work from a cost effective or ethical stance. Having said that, sooooooooo was he in any kind of therapy? What prepares him for freedom around other human beings? What kind of coping skills and anger management training was given? Don't we have a right to know that?
 

shadowshiv

Dark Overlord
May 29, 2007
17,545
120
63
50
I don't know what the answer is, to be honest. Maybe it is even possible that he's "changed" or bettered himself, you or I can't say with absolute certainty. But even if that is the case, the way they release/parole prisoners into the public feels so quiet and secretive it automatically makes people suspicious.

And I'm not an expert in mental health or rehabilitation by any stretch, but I do know that some people do very well in an institutional setting. A model prisoner does not always equate to a model citizen. Also the vast number of very contradictory psychiatric reports raises alarms in me too. I think a lot of times when you are assessing someone within the setting of an institution, you really are looking at them in a vacuum. Even with tons of training and experience, how can there be conclusions reached as to how ready they truly are to be out amongst the public again?

I think the very real and rational fear of recidivism of violent offenders coupled with the lack of information in how they are released speaks to the need for some kind of change or reform in that part of the system.

Regardless of whether he has bettered himself or changed, the fact of the matter is that he murdered four people. That in itself should mean that he should remain in prison until he's dead. He doesn't deserve a second chance.:(