Bio

Pierre Michael Parent was born in 1970. He grew up in Ontario, Canada. He was raised by caring parents. He received a good education and had opportunities to succeed.

Parent struggled with addiction, specifically to crack cocaine. His addiction would later become a significant factor in his life choices and relationships. In the spring of 2009, he attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Belleville, where he met Catharine Oliver.

Oliver was 87 years old and became Parent's sponsor in the recovery program. They formed a friendship. As their relationship developed, Oliver provided him with moral support and allowed him to live with her for a time. She also gave him substantial financial assistance, totaling around $30,000.

Murder Story

On July 17, 2010, Pierre Michael Parent murdered 87-year-old Catharine Oliver in her home located in Belleville, Ontario. Parent was a former Alcoholics Anonymous member and Oliver was his sponsor. Their relationship turned violent after a series of personal struggles.

Prior to the murder, on July 16, Oliver had expressed frustration in her diary about Parent’s actions, stating that she would never give him money again. The following morning, Parent returned to Oliver's home around 1:17 a.m. Neighbors reported hearing a scream during a struggle. On July 20, concerned friends found Oliver's body on her living room floor.

An investigation revealed that she had suffered multiple injuries, including three broken ribs. The forensic pathologist determined that the cause of her death was unclear but suggested it could have resulted from either having her head pushed into the carpet, which obstructed her airway, or from chest compression, or possibly a combination of both.

After the incident, Parent attempted to cover up the crime. Within half an hour of leaving the scene, he purchased $300 worth of crack cocaine. He also stole three rings and a fur coat from Oliver's home to sell for money to feed his drug habit. Parent later used Oliver's credit card to buy items and attempted to create fake notes at her residence.

Parent was arrested on April 8, 2011, and faced charges including second-degree murder. He eventually pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received an 11-year sentence on July 2, 2012. However, with credit for time served, he would spend just over nine years in prison.