Mike McIntyre - Devil Among Us: How Canada Failed to Stop a Pedophile

BY MIKE McINTYRE

Copyright 2008 Mike McIntyre

Great Plains Publications 420 70 Arthur Street Winnipeg, MB R3B 1G7

www.greatplains.mb.ca

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Great Plains Publications gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided for its publishing program by the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program (BPIDP); the Canada Council for the Arts; as well as the Manitoba Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism; and the Manitoba Arts Council.

Design & Typography by Relish Design Studio Ltd. Printed in Canada by Friesens

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

McIntyre, Mike

Devil among us : how Canada failed to stop a pedophile / Mike McIntyre.

ISBN 978-1-894283-80-9

1. Whitmore, Peter, 1971-. 2. Child molesters--Canada--Biography.

3. Kidnapping--Canada. 4. Criminal justice, Administration of--Canada.

5. Child sexual abuse--Canada--Case studies. I. Title.

HV6570.4.C3M35 2008 364.1536 C2008-902491-5

E-book conversion by Human Powered Design

ISBN 978-1-927855-45-4 (EPUB)

ISBN 978-1-927855-46-1 (mobi)

To Chassity who knows me better than I know myself.

INTRODUCTION

This book is based entirely on actual events. The dialogue contained in the text is real. Some of the content may be disturbing for young and/or sensitive readers. Discretion is advised.

All material is factual and has been derived from the following sources: extensive interviews with the families of both Manitoba and Saskatchewan victims; interviews with police officers, lawyers, victims advocates, legal experts and other justice officials; dozens of interviews with key witnesses, community residents and politicians; sworn testimony from numerous court proceedings; official court records and transcripts; police reports; psychiatric reports; risk assessments; parole documents; previously published stories; extensive online and newspaper archive research; and first-hand knowledge of covering the Whitmore case. The names of all victims and their families have been changed to protect their privacy and in conjunction with existing court orders.

This is my fourth true crime book and, without a doubt, my most difficult and important to date. As a father of two young children, the Peter Whitmore case struck a raw nerve with me. Whitmore truly could be the poster boy for Canadas revolving door justice system and his case demanded further examination and explanation. I believe the end result is an eye-opening look at a system which clearly struggles to deal with the most dangerous among us and, too often, simply pays lip service to the protection of our most innocent and vulnerable citizens.

It was a long and difficult journey, one that I could not have completed without the help of many people. Special acknowledgment to the families of the two victims in Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, who I got to know personally and whose strength and courage is a true inspiration. You are always in my thoughts and I am grateful for entrusting me to tell your stories.

I would also like to thank Bernard Tremblay and the RCMP, Dan Brodsky, Roz Prober, Vivian Song, Jana Pruden, Barb Pacholik, John Gormley, the residents of Whitewood, Bruce Owen, Jason Bell and all my colleagues at the Winnipeg Free Press; and Gregg Shilliday and the staff at Great Plains Publications for always believing in me.

Finally, none of this would be possible without the love and support of my family including my wife, Chassity; son, Parker; and daughter, Isabella. They are the greatest inspiration anyone could ask for.

www.mikeoncrime.com

PROLOGUE

PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO

September 19, 1980

To: Dr. C, The Medical Center

My apologies for the delay in sending you a note regarding this boys assessment. His school report, to me, was somewhat delayed, and as usual, summer holidays always seem to catch me somewhat delayed, come September.

I saw Peter and Mom on several occasions and as well, did receive a fairly extensive report regarding his academic behaviour and needs as the Psych Services in Toronto saw fit. As you know, Peter is currently attending a regular classroom in Omemee, and living in a fairly busy family. His placement there has been arranged privately by his guardian, and contact with his natural mother has been maintained fairly regularly.

Clinically, of course, Peter very definitely presents as a very vulnerable child in need of support, not only in the academic area, but also in the social and emotional one. He handled himself fairly age appropriately, from time to time, but required frequent re-assurance and support to allow him to complete the tasks requested of him. Behaviourally, there was some limit testing which he easily responded to. He spoke very warmly of his natural mother, and has convinced himself that fairly soon, in the near future, he would be residing with her.

In talking with Mrs. Budd, the current foster mother, Peter has exhibited a considerable amount of frustration in adapting to normal family routine. Most of his frustration is expressed in aggressive activity which now the family anticipates and has been able to intervene quite often, earlier, and help Peter express himself more appropriately. Certainly Mrs. Budds attitude and her current management techniques leave little to critique. I feel that Peter will thrive considerably providing the family can survive his emotional demands. I discussed this with them, the fact that Peters behaviour can be a very emotionally draining one, and therefore, the family must take precautions to build up some protections for itself so as not to have the placement deteriorate.

I suggested to Mom that the school can request psychological educational assessment by a consultant that the county quite often uses. For further support, I also directed Mrs. Budd to explore the possibility of Peters involvement at Youth of Otonabee, although he may be somewhat young for that kind of group activity.

At the moment I know of no groups at the Mental Health Clinic. At this stage, I see no need for psychotherapy, but rather his emotional needs can be more appropriately met and potential conflicts resolved by a living, modeling situation.

The Ritalin he is currently taking would seem to very definitely help to contain some of his difficulties with distractibility and poor concentration, and I would think, that we should probably not alter his drug regimentation since he seems to be suffering very little from side effects.

Diagnostically, of course, Peter is very difficult to categorize other than that he is experiencing very definitely a behavioural reaction of childhood, primarily with a perception problem, but also, showing many of the hallmarks of early maternal deprivation with the resultant poor self-esteem...and need for attention at all costs.