Calgary pedophile, child killer earns six more months of day parole

CALGARY – A notorious Calgary child killer and pedophile on day parole in Regina has earned another six months of freedom.

Harold David Smeltzer is allowed to leave his halfway house unescorted, provided he stays away from children, the National Parole Board ruled last week.

Smeltzer, 54, is not allowed near parks, swimming pools, schools and other gathering places, the board wrote.

He is serving a life sentence for murdering his five-year-old Calgary neighbour, Kimberley Thompson, in 1980.

Smeltzer abducted the child as she was walking to kindergarten on an Altadore street. He said he intended to sexually assault her, but she recognized him from the neighbourhood. He later drowned her and stuffed her body into a garbage can.

He was arrested five months after the murder when an 11-year-old rape victim spotted him on the street.

He later admitted to raping or exposing himself to 40 girls and women during a five-year reign of terror in southwest Calgary neighbourhoods.

Smeltzer is a pedophile with an antisocial personality disorder, according to the parole board.

There have been no incidents with Smeltzer since his release in December 2008 after serving 28 years in a Prince Albert, Sask., prison and its minimum security Riverbend Institution.

His risk remains manageable on day parole and he undergoes weekly visits with a psychologist, sex offender maintenance therapy and support groups.

Although Smeltzer served his entire sentence, the parole board’s 2008 decision has been met with anger from politicians, the public, victims and Kimberley’s grieving mother. Evelyn Thompson said she was disappointed her child’s killer is able to roam free.