A man serving a life sentence for the murder of a 20-year-old Greater Victoria woman, whose body was never found, was denied full parole in a Parole Board of Canada decision dated July 21.
Marguerite Telesford was reported missing in January 1987 after she didn't return home from a morning jog.
Scott Ian MacKay, now 62, who was on bail at the time for a sex offence, was linked to the murder through forensic evidence on the vehicle he was driving and later made statements to other inmates that implicated him in the killing.
MacKay, who pleaded not guilty and maintained he had no memory of the murder, was convicted of first degree murder, which became second degree murder on appeal. MacKay waived his right to a hearing, so the board did an in-office review to make the decision, noting file information reveals MacKay himself believes full parole is premature and he has not put forward a release plan.
The board agreed, saying full parole would present an undue risk to society, and would not facilitate his reintegration as a law-abiding citizen.
At the time of the murder, MacKay was out on bail after being convicted of assault, sexual assault and unlawful confinement in two previous incidents involving sex trade workers.
Since incarceration, he has completed numerous risk relevant programs, addressing issues such as sex offending, violence, substance abuse, employment, education, anger and emotions management, and problem solving, the decision notes. In particular, he participated in intensive sex offender programming as well as Indigenous specific programming, despite not being of Indigenous descent.
In March 2024, the board granted MacKay day parole for six months, imposed nine special conditions, and did not authorize overnight leave. At that time, he struggled with stress and anxiety after police notified the public of his release and label as a 鈥渉igh risk鈥� offender.
鈥淵ou turned to substance use and breached your condition to abstain from drugs. It was further learned you had travelled into an 鈥榚xclusion' zone area, but claimed your cellular phone provided you with faulty directions,鈥� the decision reads. However, after those breaches, his behaviour improved, and MacKay completed the Community Maintenance Program 鈥� Sex Offender, where he achieved a rating of 鈥済ood鈥� for all five risk factors and self-management plans.
In September 2024, the board authorized overnight leave privileges, and most recently day parole was again continued in February. The board noted positive changes including the absence of incidents of violence, long-term sobriety and openness, stability and compliance demonstrated during time on day parole. The board authorized overnight leave and again imposed nine special conditions.
鈥淔inally, although you have demonstrated your manageability in the community on day parole, you have not sufficiently prepared for a full parole, you do note feel you are ready for a full parole, and your CMT is not recommending full parole,鈥� the decision reads.
鈥淭o summarize, your criminal history, performance on community release, your inability to control your disinhibitors, and your institutional behaviour are all aggravating. However, your responsivity to programming is neutral, your progress and behaviour in the community are aggravating, your case specifics are neutral, but your release plans are insufficient to manage your assessed significant risk to re-offend both sexually and violently.鈥�
