A convicted child killer who has served 35 years for the brutal sexual assault and murder of a 12-year-old Brampton girl is back on the streets after a parole board decision. Douglas Worth, now 73, has had his day parole extended for another six months, despite being assessed as an "above-average risk" to reoffend.
Parole Board Decision Acknowledges Ongoing Risk
In a December decision obtained by Postmedia News, a two-person panel from the Parole Board of Canada extended Worth's day parole. The panel stated that while his advanced age, physical limitations, and mobility issues might lower his likelihood of violent or sexual recidivism, they do not eliminate the risk. "These characteristics suggest that your likelihood of engaging in violent or sexual recidivism may be lower than previously indicated," the board wrote. "While this does not eliminate risk, it is an important consideration."
Worth is currently residing at an undisclosed community-based residential facility in the Halifax area. The board pointed to his "successful period of day parole" and his 25 years of sobriety, which they called "remarkable," as evidence of progress. His release on day parole first began in July of last year, following a series of escorted and unescorted temporary absences from prison.
The Horrific 1987 Murder of Trina Campbell
The decision renews public attention on one of Canada's most chilling crimes. Trina Campbell, a 12-year-old girl originally from Saskatchewan, was living in a Brampton group home in December 1987. She had become a ward of the children's aid society just three months prior. On December 13, she took a school bus to Brampton but never arrived home.
Douglas Worth, who had been released from prison just seven months earlier after serving time for the rape of an Indigenous girl, was responsible for her disappearance. When police eventually located Worth, they discovered Trina's severed head in the back seat of his car. The investigation revealed that Worth had raped, murdered, and dismembered the young girl. He later disposed of her remains, retrieved them, and relocated her body multiple times over a six-month period.
Shockingly, Worth had reportedly warned parole authorities before his 1987 release that he wanted to murder children, but those warnings were not heeded. He was convicted of second-degree murder in Trina's death, with a jury deliberating for less than an hour. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 23 years.
A Long History of Violence and Public Safety Concerns
The parole board's latest report notes Worth's abusive upbringing and extensive criminal history. In 1978, he was convicted of raping an Indigenous girl in Ontario and sentenced to eight years in prison. His history underscores the ongoing debate about public safety and the rehabilitation of high-risk offenders.
Upon his initial release to day parole last year, police in Halifax issued a public warning, identifying Worth as a high-risk offender. The recent parole extension ensures he will remain under supervision in the community for at least another half-year, with conditions aimed at managing his risk. The case continues to raise difficult questions about justice, parole, and the potential for rehabilitation in even the most severe criminal cases.
