{
  "id": 12956849,
  "title": "Parole Board extends release for rapist behind 1980 killing of Calgary girl",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/parole-board-extends-release-for-rapist-behind-1980-killing-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T21:15:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/uncategorized/2026/10/08/parole-board-extends-release-for-rapist-behind-1980-killing-of-calgary-girl"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Canada's Parole Board has extended the day parole for a man who abducted and killed a five-year-old girl in Calgary in 1980. The individual, now 24 years old when he abducted Kimberley Thompson, was initially planning to sexually assault her but killed her after she identified him. Smeltzer also confessed to sexually assaulting over 40 girls under the age of 13.\n\nThe parole board's decision to grant release came with specific conditions, such as avoiding areas frequented by children and refraining from accessing explicit material. The board acknowledged the \"horrific\" nature of his crimes, but noted that they occurred nearly five decades ago. They believed his released plan would reduce his risk of future offenses.\n\nA psychological report from 2019 indicated that Smeltzer posed an \"average\" risk of committing another sexual or violent offense within the next five years. This assessment was presented in the release decision by the Canadian Press, which was initially published on October 8, 2026.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Calgary Herald",
        "title": "Convicted murderer cleared by judge to go before Calgary jury to reduce his parole ineligibility",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/convicted-murderer-cleared-by-judge-to-go-before-calgary-jury-to",
        "published": "2026-10-08T20:35:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}