David Dobson

Background

David James Dobson was born in 1965 and was from Mississauga, Ontario. He was 17 at the time of the offence on May 6, 1982. He was later transferred to a minimum-security prison but was returned to medium security after lobbying from the Dobson family. In 2004, he was transferred to a fenceless minimum-security prison in the usual process leading to release, but he was returned to a medium-security prison with assistance from the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime.

The offence

On May 6, 1982, Dobson abducted, brutally murdered, and raped Darlene “Dolly” Prioriello, who was 16 years old, at a Mississauga bus stop. Darlene Prioriello was raped, tortured, choked, and bludgeoned to death with a concrete brick. The autopsy listed the cause of death as a fractured skull and asphyxiation. Dobson repeatedly struck Darlene Prioriello in the face with a concrete block and pierced her body with safety pins.

Investigation

Dobson sent taunting letters to Peel police in a “catch me if you can” style. In a letter to Peel police, Dobson wrote: “I won't strike again until next year at the same time,” and “Set up your bait and try to catch me ... See ya next year.” Dobson also sent “catch me if you can” letters to investigators and even phoned the Prioriellos and told them he had killed Darlene Prioriello.

Dobson wrote a “catch me if you can” letter to retired Peel homicide inspector Jim Wingate describing how he had killed the student behind a factory on General Rd., near Dixie Rd. and Eglinton Ave. Dobson wrote: “I won't strike again until next year at the same time,” and “Set up your bait and try to catch me ... See ya next year.”

Court documents showed that Dobson had vowed to kill again on the anniversary of Darlene Prioriello’s killing.

Arrest and charges

Dobson was apprehended and charged on May 12, 1982, a week after the murder.

Trial

Dobson was convicted of first-degree murder on April 11, 1983.

Sentencing

Dobson was sentenced to life in prison on April 11, 1983.

Parole proceedings and aftermath

On April 17, 2007, Dobson was denied parole. A national parole panel near Kingston held a hearing for the family of Darlene Prioriello, who saw Dobson for the first time since 1983.

Terri Prioriello said: “He's cold,” and “His eyes were the most horrible eyes I've ever looked into in my life.” Terri Prioriello said she ripped up her victim impact statement in frustration during the review and stated: “They said, 'Well you can't say the word monster, you can't call him a product of the devil -- it's disrespectful,'” and “Well where was my sister's respect when he was murdering her?”

Helen Prioriello also called Dobson a monster and shouted “I'm not buying your act” when Dobson mouthed the words “I'm sorry” to her. The family cheered after leaving the parole hearing. Helen Prioriello said: “He's staying home where he belongs, where he likes it!”

Dobson was 42 at the April 17, 2007 parole hearing and had served at least twenty-five years of his life sentence, making him due for annual parole review every two years. He was eligible for full parole for the first time since his arrest 25 years ago. If the parole board refused his request, he would be able to reapply in two years.

The Prioriello family tried to change the parole system through a nationwide petition. They wanted parole hearings to be held every five years rather than every two years. More than 1,500 people had signed the petition, and the Prioriellos hoped to get 10,000 signatures. The petition was available on their website at nofreedomdobson.com. Terri Prioriello said: “We don't think convicted killers or repeat offenders should ever get out and if you get life in prison it should mean life in prison,” and “But we know that's not going to happen, so we're asking the federal government to increase the time to five years, instead of two years.”

Terri Prioriello also said: “Families have already been victimized once. They shouldn't have to be victimized every two years. Having to face a loved one's killer and to read what he did to her and how her death has affected our lives is something nobody should ever have to do once, never mind twice.”

Terri Prioriello described writing her victim impact statement and said: “I listened to her read it and it was like she was burying Dolly all over again,” and “It was so upsetting for Mom. She cried. Families shouldn't have to go through this all over again.” She also said it was frustrating that the statements had to be submitted 30 days in advance so Dobson could read them, and stated: “But we're not allowed to see his material to find out what he wants to say.”

Terri Prioriello said she hoped to get 10,000 signatures and then present the petition to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She stated that the petition was launched in the Kingston area so people living there would realize that Dobson would be “walking through their neighbourhood” if he got out. Terri Prioriello also said: “I really believe with my heart and soul that he will kill again,” and “We must save another person's life.”

Dobson said he had an interest in “crime prevention” and would like to do community education work with other offenders on parole. In a 1998 interview, Dobson said he found prison life to be comfortable.

Other details

Darlene Prioriello was nicknamed “Dolly.” Terri Prioriello was 43 in the April 2007 account. The Prioriello family prepared impact statements for David Dobson’s parole bid, described as painful and like “burying Dolly all over again” in the wording of the account. Dobson was scheduled to go before the parole board last month but cancelled the meeting, causing the Prioriello family to prepare for the emotional day again.