Bio

David William Shearing was born in 1959 in British Columbia, Canada. He grew up in a family with a respectable background. His father had worked as a prison guard, and his brother was a sheriff. Despite this, David had a troubled youth. He got into trouble with the law early on. He was arrested for offenses such as assault, drinking and driving, and drug possession. Shearing completed high school and finished a heavy mechanic's course, suggesting he had the basic education and skills needed for a job.

David lived most of his life in Clearwater, British Columbia, an area known for its natural beauty. This familiarity with the surrounding wilderness would later play a significant role in his life. He worked various jobs but had a history of conflict with the law, which painted a complicated picture of his character.

Murder Story

On August 2, 1982, David William Shearing shot and killed six members of the Bentley and Johnson families while they were camping in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. The victims included George Bentley, 66, and Edith Bentley, 59, their daughter Jackie Johnson, 40, son-in-law Bob Johnson, 44, and grandchildren Janet Johnson, 13, and Karen Johnson, 11.

After shooting the four adults, Shearing held the two girls captive for days. He assaulted them before killing them. He eventually loaded the bodies into the Johnson family's car and set it on fire to conceal his crimes. The car was found burned near Clearwater, about 20 kilometers from the campsite.

The investigation began when Bob Johnson did not return to work after the family's camping trip. Two weeks passed without any sign of the missing family before a mushroom picker found the wreck of their car. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered the remains of the four adults and the skeletal remains of the two girls in the trunk.

A comprehensive search for the families involved multiple law enforcement agencies and various resources. The investigation led police to identify Shearing as a suspect due to tips from local residents. He was arrested on November 19, 1983, after police interviewed him about the crimes.

During questioning, Shearing confessed to the murders. He explained how he had stalked the victims and committed the killings. He re-enacted the crime scenes for police and admitted to stealing valuables from the victims’ camper.

On April 16, 1984, David Shearing pleaded guilty to six counts of murder. The following day, he was sentenced to six concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years. His case drew national attention and raised concerns about his potential for release as it became eligible for parole after serving 15 years. Over the years, community activists campaigned to keep him in prison.