This website – 4Darcie.ca – is dedicated to the four victims of Allan Schoenborn and the desire to make changes to the British Columbia and Canadian laws governing hearings, victim services and treatment / incarseration for individuals found “not criminally responsible” for their violent crimes.

On April 6, 2008 Darcie Clarke’s three children – Kaitlynne, 10, Max, 8, and Cordon, 5 – were murdered by her estranged husband, Allan Schoenborn.

At his trial, Schoenborn admitted to the murders but pled not guilty.

When the trial concluded in February 2010, he was found guilty of first-degree murder in the children’s deaths but not criminally responsible for the slayings.

Schoenborn was not taken to jail but rather assigned to a psychiatric hospital.

At a hearing before the BC Review Board on April 6, 2010 – the second anniversary of the murders and just two months after his trial – Schoenborn expressed the opinion he should be released. This was denied because in the words of the Board he is “an angry and violent man” who “can’t be trusted.”

However a year later on April 6, 2011 the BC Review Board changed their minds and agreed to allow Schoenborn out into Coquitlam, BC so he could enjoy “a coffee” a “walk in the mall” and even to “swim at the local pool” where children and families gather. Just as worrying, Coquitlam, BC is the community where Darcie Clarke now lives.

The BC Review Board claimed they did not know Darcie lived in Coquitlam even though they mailed her documents to her Coquitlam address. The Board went on to state that there was no issue with public safety pertaining to Schoenborn. The Board indicted their responsibility was to focus on the well being of the “patient” and not to monitor the whereabouts of victims.

This led to an outcry from the public, media and politicians. From this, Darcie’s cousin Stacy Galt became the outspoken voice of victims everywhere. After thousands of people signed petitions, wrote emails or letters to the BC Review Board and attended a rally in support of Darcie and all victims of crime, the BC Review Board held a hearing to review Schoenborn’s release.

Schoenborn did not attend the April 21st hearing but ultimately withdrew his application for supervised release due to the “intense public outcry”. That said, in one year’s time, Schoenborn can apply again. In fact, he can apply each and every year on the anniversary of his heinous acts.

During the 2011 public hearing, the BC Review Board and Schoenborn’s lawyer refused to speak in an audible manner or turn on the microphones which were in front of each Board member so the gallery – filled with reporters, family members and concerned public – could hear. In fact, some of the Board and Schoenborn’s legal counsel sat with their backs to the gallery or audience. This was brought up several times to the BC Review Board Chair Colin Sweeny during the hearing who then said to “listen closer”.

The process by which the BC Review Board tends to the needs of victims is atrocious and requires review. In addition, the treatment and incarceration of individuals found “not criminally responsible” for violent crimes needs to be fixed so that the accused, victims and community as a whole are served properly.

We are currently working with local, Provincial and Federal politicians to make this happen.

The 2012 review date was to have been on April 18th, but in March 2012 we received word from the BC Review Board than Schoneborn asked for an eight month delay in the hearing. As such, the 2012 review date will be in November, with a confirmed date to be known in September.