Surrey child killer granted 60-day unescorted temporary absence

Shane Robert Ertmoed, serving life in prison for the abduction, sexual assault and killing of 10-year-old Surrey girl Heather Thomas, has been granted a 60-day unescorted temporary absence to take part in a cooking program at a community residential facility.

In a Sept. 2 decision, the Parole Board of Canada said Ertmoed applied for the absence for personal development and rehabilitation. The board concluded he would not pose an undue risk of reoffending, despite disagreement from his case management team, which said his risk could not be safely managed under the proposed arrangement.

The team also said employment issues did not contribute to his offending and that cooking skills did not align with his long-term goal of working as a plumber. The approval includes special conditions intended to protect society and victims.

Ertmoed is barred from direct or indirect contact with Thomas's friends and family. He cannot visit more than 30 B.C. municipalities, including areas across Greater Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast and Okanagan, or travel to Alberta, Quebec, New Brunswick or Ontario. He also cannot access pornography or sexually explicit material.

Other conditions prohibit him from being around females under 18 unless accompanied by a pre-approved responsible adult aware of his criminal history. He must report all relationships and friendships with females to his parole supervisor and cannot possess or use an internet-capable device without prior written approval.

Thomas was playing outside her father's townhouse complex in Cloverdale on Oct. 1, 2000, when Ertmoed persuaded her to enter his apartment. Her body was found three weeks later in Alouette Lake. After his arrest, Ertmoed confessed and gave a detailed account of the killing, later recanting. He abandoned his sentence appeal in 2002, and his conviction appeal was dismissed in 2006.

The board noted that Ertmoed completed several escorted temporary absences without concern after applying for them in 2021. He was denied day parole in January 2025. At the latest hearing, Thomas's mother and a childhood friend opposed the temporary absence.

A June 2024 psychological risk assessment rated Ertmoed's future sexual reoffending risk as average relative to other sexual offenders. It identified several concerns, including a deviant pattern of arousal to young females, social isolation, poor coping skills, high stress and difficulty managing strong emotions. The assessment said a future victim, if there were one, would likely be a pre-pubescent or pubescent female and that serious harm could result.

A psychiatric assessment completed in September 2025 recommended arousal-reducing medication. Ertmoed began taking it in November and told the board it had helped replace unhealthy sexual thoughts with healthy ones. The board said he had become more open about risk-related issues and discussed how to manage troubling thoughts.

The temporary absence does not permit overnight absences. Ertmoed must return to the community residential facility each night and remain under 24-hour supervision. He was eligible to apply for full parole in November 2025; people serving life sentences who receive parole remain subject to conditions and supervision for life.