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Edmonton Man Convicted of Killing Pregnant Wife Granted Full Parole
An Edmonton man convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and disposing of her body receives full parole, sparking mixed emotions and renewed calls for stronger legal protection for unborn victims
An Edmonton man named Michael White, who was convicted of killing his pregnant wife and disposing of her body, has been granted full parole by the Parole Board of Canada this past May. This decision was based on White’s assessed low risk of re-offending, stable employment, and demonstrated ability to live a law-abiding lifestyle, according to the board’s written decision.
The tragic incident occurred in July 2005 when Liana White, who was four months pregnant with the couple’s second child, was fatally stabbed. She was reported missing after her SUV was found in a park near their home in northwest Edmonton.
In the days following her disappearance, Michael White held a news conference and organized searches for her body. Eventually, during one of these searches, her badly decomposed body was discovered in a ditch near St. Albert.
During the trial, it was revealed that White had disposed of his wife’s body and attempted to clean up evidence of the crime. Police testimony indicated that White was seen retrieving garbage bags containing clothing, paper towels, latex gloves with Liana’s blood on them, and other items related to the crime. Some of these items also had Michael White’s DNA on them. The judge described the offense as “the most reprehensible and extreme form of domestic violence.”
As a result, White was convicted of second-degree murder and offering an indignity to a dead body and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 17 years. His appeals against these convictions were rejected by Alberta’s highest court. However, the parole board noted that White continues to maintain his innocence, which has prevented him from gaining insight into his actions.