Two years ago, within the brutal confines of Millhaven Penitentiary – a place reserved for the most dangerous offenders – Dellen Millard, a notorious serial killer, attacked a fellow inmate. Millhaven holds those deemed beyond redemption, yet even within its walls, these individuals aren’t entirely alone.
Despite this act of violence, Millard, along with his accomplice Mark Smich, has been transferred to a medium-security prison in Ontario. This move has ignited fury and disbelief among the families of his victims, raising unsettling questions about the priorities of the Canadian justice system.
Millard’s crimes are chillingly diverse: the murder of Tim Bosma, his girlfriend Laura Babcock, and even his own father, Wayne Millard. He was once a privileged Toronto resident, whose dark impulses led to unimaginable acts of violence. Now, he’s steadily progressing towards the possibility of freedom.
Clayton Babcock, Laura’s father, voiced the outrage felt by many: “Why maintain maximum-security prisons if individuals like this don’t remain there indefinitely?” He revealed that numerous dangerous prisoners have been moved to medium-security facilities, with Smich transferred two years prior. The addition of another year to Millard’s sentence, served concurrently, feels like a hollow gesture.
Babcock expressed a growing frustration with a system seemingly obsessed with rehabilitation, even for those who appear beyond saving. This sentiment is echoed by the Bosma family, who questioned the logic of rewarding a three-time first-degree murderer with a move to a lower-security prison. What, they ask, is filling the maximum-security facilities – white-collar criminals?
The Bosma family’s statement highlighted a disturbing trend: a perceived devaluation of public safety in favor of a lenient approach to criminals. They described the move as an “abhorrent transgression,” a betrayal of common sense. The shift in the justice system, they imply, began years ago and has only intensified.
Millard and Smich were initially convicted of first-degree murder in the Bosma case in 2016, followed by convictions in Babcock’s death in 2017, and Wayne Millard’s in 2018. Corrections officials offered a dismissive response to the families’ concerns, essentially ignoring their pleas and proceeding with the transfer despite their vehement objections.
The timing of Millard’s crimes proved crucial. Had these atrocities occurred decades ago, the outcome would likely have been drastically different. A swift and decisive punishment would have been almost certain. Instead, a series of legal challenges altered the landscape of his sentencing.
Originally sentenced to 75 years, Millard benefited from a Supreme Court ruling that deemed consecutive sentencing “cruel and unusual.” This decision effectively shortened his potential prison term, making him eligible for day parole in 2036 and full parole in 2039. While officials claim eligibility doesn’t guarantee release, the families remain skeptical.
Now, Millard is reportedly exploring another avenue for early release: claiming Indigenous identity and seeking transfer to a healing lodge. This calculated maneuver, according to those familiar with the case, could potentially expedite his path to freedom, possibly by as early as 2026. The prospect looms large, a chilling possibility for those forever scarred by his actions.
