The Wells Gray Park Murders
BRITISH COLUMBIA
In August 1982, three generations of the Johnson and Bentley family set out for a two week camping trip in British Columbia.
They never knew a predator was watching them from the shadows, eyeing off his target.
When the entire family failed to return home, it triggered the most expensive and publicized manhunt in Canadian history — and uncovered a horrific truth that shocked the nation.
Special thanks to Shelley Boden of the Johnson-Bentley family for speaking to us for this updated episode.
A previous version of this episode was originally posted in April 2021 under the name “The Johnson-Bentley Family Murders”
Additional content warning: this episode includes the murder and sexual assault of a child. Minimal graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.
Convicted mass murderer and pedophile David Ennis, formerly known as David Shearing
Credits:
Research: Haley Gray
Writing, narration, sound design, additional research: Kristi Lee
Disclaimer voiced by Erik Krosby
Music credits:
All music by Blue Dot Sessions and Epidemic Sound
Theme song: by We Talk of Dreams
Main information sources:
COURT DOCUMENTS:
2003 FCT 461 (CanLII) | Ennis v. Canada (Attorney General) | CanLII
BOOK:
The Seventh Shadow by Michael Eastham with Ian McLeod
DOCUMENTARY:
CBC’s The Detectives: Wells Gray Gunman
MOST RECENT PAROLE HEARINGS:
https://globalnews.ca/news/8193400/bc-mass-murderer-david-ennis-denied-parole/
NEWS ARCHIVES:
https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1983/12/5/arrest-in-camper-murders
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493666721/?terms=%22george%20bentley%22&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/494048177/?terms=%22george%20bentley%22&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493665165/?terms=%22george%20bentley%22&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/494035926/?terms=%22george%20bentley%22&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/472328874/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/national-post-latest-edition/20081108/284112087205354
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/life-s-a-slice-of-demographic-pie-1.694552
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/kelownans-want-no-parole-for-family-killer-1.303924
https://www.kamloopsnews.ca/wells-gray-murderer-denied-parole-1.1234824
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493660601/?article=22b58510-b599-4e2c-80cf-e51b52c295ea
https://www.newspapers.com/image/558243236/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/422244301/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/504415616/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/504416336/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-province/20081020/281590941391033
https://www.pressreader.com/canada/calgary-herald/20081023/283729835106232
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/1982-mass-murders-in-b-c-still-sicken-family-friends-1.928466
https://www.kamloopsnews.ca/news/city-region/wells-gray-murderer-denied-parole-1.1234824
https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/no-closure-to-johnson-bentley-murder-tragedy/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493986396/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/494758552/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/464253651/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/560074477/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/472328874/?terms=david%20shearing&match=1
https://www.newspapers.com/image/472328825/?terms=brian%20bentley&match=1