Four people are dead because of Kevin Koehler.
And now, the 60-year-old career criminal is out on the streets, and the Waterloo Regional Police Service is rattling the warning bells: Koehler is dangerous and back living in Kitchener.
Koehler was given statutory release after serving two-thirds of his latest sentence. His release was briefly revoked in September “based on deteriorating behaviours.” The parole board said he had also been spotted at an LCBO, which is off limits.
POSES ‘SIGNIFICANT RISK’
“Koehler has an extensive criminal history of violent offence convictions, including criminal negligence causing death, assault with a weapon, assault, and assault police,” a news release said.
“WRPS’ Offender Management Unit believes Mr. Koehler poses a significant risk to public safety and a high risk of reoffending or breaching his terms.”
Koehler’s most recent parlay with the penitentiary was a 12-year manslaughter sentence for the 2013 choking death of his vulnerable roommate, Mary Anne May, 55, in their Kitchener apartment. She had moved in with him out of financial necessity while on disability benefits and working as a cleaner.
WRAPPED BODY IN TARP
According to the Waterloo Record, May and Koehler had a long-standing dispute and on Sept. 18, 2013, that spat exploded in violence. He broke down the woman’s door and beat and choked her to death.
“F***, I can’t believe it,” he told a person in a neighbouring apartment. “I f***ing killed her.”
After the killing, Koehler wrapped her body in a tarp and put it in a bicycle trailer. In the middle of the night, he cycled to a grassy area near the Grand River and dumped May’s body. It was found the next day.
He was charged with second-degree murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter because it was deemed that there was no intent to kill. Koehler later told a judge, “I was just going in to scare her.”
Years later, the staff at his halfway house claimed Koehler spoke of May in “derogatory terms.” He then reenacted choking his victim by putting his hand on his own neck. Later that same night, he got into a fight with another resident after he reportedly approached their female friend.
HIGH-SPEED CRASH
On Aug. 3, 1985, Koehler killed two teenage girls and a police officer in a high-speed, fiery crash. He had been drinking when he got behind the wheel to drive two girls, Helen Wattam, 17, a mother of two and bride-to-be, and Christine Lindsay, 16, her maid of honour, home from a wedding rehearsal.
Cops clocked him speeding near Walkerton at 160 km/h and he lead officers on a chase. It came to an end when he slammed into an OPP cruiser, killing the two young women and rookie OPP Const. Craig Campbell, 24. Four others, including a second OPP officer, were injured.
Koehler’s blood-alcohol level was just above the legal limit, but it wasn’t considered a major factor in the crash.
For that, he received just a three-year prison sentence and a lifetime driving ban after pleading guilty to criminal negligence causing death.
‘PATTERN OF VIOLENCE’
In 2021, the Parole Board of Canada showed none of its usual cheery optimism when discussing Koehler, who has nearly 40 convictions.
“You have a well-established pattern of violence and high-risk behaviour, lack insight into your criminal behaviour, minimize your substance abuse issues and have a poor history on past periods of conditional release,” the board said in a report.
“Last fall you wrote a letter containing a veiled threat, and this suggests your potential for violence continues to be high. You have slapped, punched, choked and head-butted victims.
“On one occasion, you used a knife to stab a victim in the hand. You have also threatened to cause harm or death to victims. You have committed offences against intimate partners, peace officers, your daughter (a toddler), and others.”
One assessment determined Koehler poses “a high risk for future violence in the context of spousal violence. Areas of concern were noted to be long-standing substance abuse issues, difficulties managing emotions, problematic intimate relationships, impulsivity, negative associates and lifestyle instability.”
@HunterTOSun
