George Pitt, a man from New Brunswick serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of six-year-old Samantha Toole, has been denied day parole by the Parole Board of Canada. The board determined that Pitt’s proposed release plan did not adequately address the risk he poses to society.
The case dates back to October 1993 when Samantha, the daughter of Pitt’s then-girlfriend Gloria Toole, was tragically found dead in the St. John River. During his 1994 trial in Saint John, it was revealed that Pitt had been doing laundry at around 4 a.m. on the day the girl went missing, with blood from Samantha discovered on bedding he was washing.
Despite Pitt, now in his early sixties, maintaining his innocence, his conviction for the crime stands. In 2005, DNA testing was inconclusive in linking him to biological evidence from the case or identifying another suspect.
One major obstacle to Pitt’s parole was his refusal to participate in sex-offender programming due to his claim of innocence and potential triggers from past abuse. Experts highlighted the challenge of maintaining innocence in the parole process and suggested ways for Pitt to acknowledge problematic behavior without admitting guilt.
A recent psychological assessment categorized Pitt’s risk of violence as high/above average, sexual reoffending as moderate/average, and general recidivism as moderate. While community-based facilities were willing to house him, the parole board found his proposed release plan lacking in detail regarding supervision and support, ultimately deeming it insufficient to mitigate the risk of reoffending.
The board emphasized the need for a comprehensive community plan, including employment and medical and psychological support, for successful reintegration. Despite being eligible for parole consideration, Pitt’s current plan fell short, and he remains incarcerated for now.