A man with a chilling past – a history marked by brutal violence and sexual assault – has been granted a conditional release into a Vancouver Island community. John Cody, formerly known as Peter John Peters, terrorized London and Southern Ontario in 1990, leaving a trail of devastation in his wake.
The Parole Board of Canada acknowledges Cody, now 64, continues to pose a moderate to high risk of re-offending. This assessment isn’t based on speculation, but on the immutable facts of his horrific crimes – crimes that continue to haunt his victims and their families.
This decision follows a previous, shorter period of unsupervised leave granted earlier this year, allowing Cody to participate in a reintegration program. He has diligently completed numerous correctional programs, vocational training, and counselling sessions during his decades-long incarceration.
Over the years, Cody has participated in hundreds of escorted temporary absences, culminating in a successful 60-day unsupervised leave. He is currently engaged in a work release program, a carefully structured step towards potential reintegration into society.
Cody is committed to ongoing bi-weekly counselling and participation in substance abuse recovery meetings. He claims to have maintained sobriety for over three decades, demonstrating an apparent ability to manage cravings and negative emotions.
Despite this progress, the board recognizes the profound and lasting harm Cody inflicted. “Your offences caused serious harm, resulting in devastating impacts on multiple victims and trauma to their family members,” the ruling stated, acknowledging the victims’ enduring pain.
During the hearing, the parole board listened to harrowing victim impact statements. These statements powerfully articulated the ongoing psychological wounds and vehemently opposed Cody’s release, with some even calling for the ultimate punishment.
Cody’s spree of violence began with the murder of 25-year-old Charlene Brittain in his London apartment in January 1990. Within days, he escalated his attacks, fatally assaulting 63-year-old Albert Philips in Toronto and brutally kidnapping and attempting to kill Sandy Bellows-DeWolfe in St. Catharines.
While evading capture, Cody continued to threaten lives, robbing banks and stealing vehicles at gunpoint. He was eventually apprehended in Sault Ste. Marie and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for seventeen years.
His history includes a brief escape from a minimum-security facility in 2007, though he voluntarily surrendered the following day. This incident underscores the complexities of managing a dangerous offender.
The board considered Cody’s troubled upbringing, marked by physical and psychological abuse, and the damaging influence of his father’s attitudes towards women. He himself reported a history of exploitative and abusive relationships, admitting to targeting vulnerable women.
Psychiatric assessments have diagnosed Cody with antisocial personality disorder. He has reportedly had hundreds of sexual partners and openly admitted to seeking out those he perceived as easy targets.
However, the board also noted a significant shift in Cody’s institutional behaviour since 2007, with no major incidents reported. They assessed his accountability and motivation as high, indicating active engagement in his correctional plan.
Cody revealed during the hearing that he legally changed his name in the late 1990s, a deliberate attempt to “reinvent” himself. This act, however, does not erase the past or diminish the gravity of his crimes.
The parole granted is heavily conditional. Cody is prohibited from consuming alcohol or drugs, associating with criminals, and must report all relationships with women. He is also barred from using technology without supervision and must return to his residence each night.
Travel to Alberta or Ontario is forbidden without explicit permission, and any contact with victims or their families is strictly prohibited. These restrictions are intended to minimize any potential risk to the public.
The parole board’s decision is a testament to the difficult balance between rehabilitation and public safety, a balance that continues to be debated in the wake of Cody’s release.
