Travis Baumgartner

Case record: Travis Baumgartner

STATUS

Sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years on September 11, 2013

Timeline

• June 15, 2012 — Travis Baumgartner worked a night shift delivering cash to bank machines on the University of Alberta campus at HUB Mall, where he shot and killed Michelle Shegelski, Edgardo Rejano, and Brian Ilesic, and severely wounded Matthew Schuman.
• June 15, 2012 — After the shootings, Baumgartner fled the scene, including by taking cash from the area and driving the armoured truck away from where Rejano lay dead.
• June 16, 2012 — Baumgartner was arrested at the border crossing between Aldergrove, B.C., and Lynden, Wash., after a licence plate scanner matched Sandra Baumgartner’s plate to a blue Ford truck.
• June 16, 2012 — Baumgartner told border guards that he did not remember the past four days and claimed he had been abducted by a mystery man who forced him to deliver a backpack to Seattle or his family would be killed.
• June 16, 2012 — Baumgartner told Edmonton homicide Det. Scott Jones that story about lost memory and claimed his name was David Webb.
• June 16, 2012 — Baumgartner confessed to the murders just before 5 p.m., calling his actions “a blind rage,” and said: “I did it all. I killed those people and robbed their truck.”
• September 9, 2013 — Travis Baumgartner pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and a charge of attempted murder in a plea bargain.
• September 11, 2013 — Associate Chief Justice John Rooke sentenced Travis Baumgartner to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years.

Background

Travis Baumgartner was 22 at the time of sentencing and worked as a trainee armed guard with G4S Cash Solutions. He worked for G4S Cash Solutions for two months and had been hired about two months before the June 15, 2012 shootings.

Baumgartner had argued with his mother, Sandra Baumgartner, about rent money earlier in the day before the shootings. At the time, he owed about $58,000 for his recently purchased Ford F-150 truck and had 26 cents in his bank account. His mother declared bankruptcy twice, including in 2004 when her marriage ended.

Baumgartner’s online footprint included messages on social media and on a dating site, including posting and joking about robbing or using a gun. He texted a friend Dylan with the message: “This is the night.” He also posted on Facebook: “I wonder if I’d make the 6 o’clock news if I just started poping (sic) people off.” He also wrote: “2 days until training ... I get a gun ;)” He also used a quote that was described as appearing to be from the Joker in The Dark Knight: “Introduce a little anarchy.”

During court proceedings, Baumgartner was described as having a disinterested look and keeping his eyes closed for long periods during the sentencing hearing. His lawyer, Peter Royal, said there would be no answers offered by the accused for these acts.

The offence

Baumgartner shot his co-workers point-blank as they worked a night shift delivering cash to bank machines at the University of Alberta campus on June 15, 2012.

Baumgartner was in a locked ATM vestibule with three fellow guards and a trainee. Michelle Shegelski and Brian Ilesic and Matthew Schuman were present in the vestibule area, with Shegelski watching the rookies as they reloaded ATMs. Baumgartner stood at the door and had his co-workers’ backs.

Baumgartner drew a G4S-issued .38 calibre pistol and emptied the gun into the co-workers who trusted him, shooting:

• Matthew Schuman in the left side of the head
• Michelle Shegelski in the back of hers
• Brian Ilesic with two shots point-blank into his head

Shegelski and Ilesic died instantly. For an unknown reason, Baumgartner fired two shots into the wall after shooting them. Baumgartner then left Schuman to die and walked out of the vestibule; the door locked behind him.

After leaving the vestibule, Baumgartner reloaded his gun with a G4S-issued speed loader that loaded six bullets at a time. He then strode toward Eddie Rejano, a man he had trained with, and shot Rejano in the face. He shot Rejano twice more once he fell to the ground. Baumgartner drove the armoured car away from where Rejano lay dead, face-down on the pavement.

During the sentencing hearing and in the agreed statement of facts, the judge described the killings as an ambush and said the victims had no chance. The judge also stated that Baumgartner planned the robbery and when the time came, he chose to kill.

After the robbery, Baumgartner left cash for two friends in Sherwood Park and dropped $64,000 on his mother’s kitchen table.

Victims

Baumgartner killed three co-workers:

• Michelle Shegelski
• Edgardo Rejano
• Brian Ilesic

Baumgartner injured a fourth guard:

• Matthew Schuman, left with serious brain injuries and described as having vision loss, a loss of feeling on the right side of the body, and risks having seizures.

Investigation

Police initially did not know whether Baumgartner was involved as a suspect or whether he was an abducted, injured victim.

Investigators sought Baumgartner’s whereabouts and issued alerts and requests for public assistance based on descriptions of his truck. A description of Baumgartner’s truck was circulated to active officers in Edmonton, the Alberta RCMP, and even border crossings.

A search warrant was referenced in connection with Det. Paul Gregory’s application, which stated: “Police have not been able to confirm whether Baumgartner was involved in the incident as a suspect, or whether he is a possible abducted, injured victim,”.

Police later decided Baumgartner was an inside man and a killer. At 3 p.m., police announced they would file warrants for his arrest on three charges of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder.

Arrest

Baumgartner was arrested at the border crossing between Aldergrove, B.C., and Lynden, Wash., after a licence plate scanner matched Sandra Baumgartner’s plate to a blue Ford truck.

Employees described the situation as an “armed and dangerous” alert on officials’ screens. Baumgartner was pulled from the truck and arrested before he reached the border. He did not resist.

Canadian authorities put him in a holding cell on the northern side of the Kenneth G. Ward border crossing. Baumgartner did not have his passport. A backpack containing $333,580 in cash was found inside the truck. It was also stated that Baumgartner no longer had the G4S-issued gun and body armour at the time of arrest.

Baumgartner gave a brief, confusing statement to border guards. He said: “He was abducted by a mystery man and forced to deliver a backpack to Seattle or his family would be killed.”

He then told Edmonton homicide Det. Scott Jones a similar lost-memory story and claimed his name was David Webb. It was stated that he copied the name from books and movies about the fictional spy Jason Bourne, where “Webb was the character’s actual birth name.”

An undercover RCMP officer joined Baumgartner in the cell. Baumgartner continued with his amnesia story and gave a description of the mystery man he claimed would hurt his family, saying: “He was always watching my Mom and was going to kill her if I did not deliver his money,”. He also said: “I’m just trying to help my Mom, sir.”

Just before 5 p.m., Baumgartner abandoned his ruse and confessed to the murders. He called his actions “a blind rage.” At that point, he said to the undercover officer: “I did it all.” He continued: “I killed those people and robbed their truck.”

Baumgartner told the undercover officer: “You must be fast,” and Baumgartner replied: “I guess I am,”. He then said: “They couldn’t draw it fast enough. The mafia would have been impressed.” He also stated: “At least I don’t have to pay for the truck anymore.”

It was reported that Baumgartner was formally rejected entry to the U.S., leaving Canadian authorities able to arrest him without extradition complications.

Trial

Baumgartner pleaded guilty on September 9, 2013. The plea included:

• one count of first-degree murder (for the killing of Rejano)
• two counts of second-degree murder (for the killings of Shegelski and Ilesic)
• a charge of attempted murder (for the attempted murder of Schuman)

The agreed statement of facts described Baumgartner shooting co-workers point-blank as they worked a night shift delivering cash to bank machines and said the first-degree murder conviction in Rejano’s death was supported by evidence that Baumgartner planned the killing outside the HUB Mall after shooting the other three.

Sentencing

On September 11, 2013, Associate Chief Justice John Rooke sentenced Travis Baumgartner to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years. Rooke accepted a joint sentencing submission from prosecutors and Baumgartner’s defence lawyer.

Rooke said the maximum sentence under the new law—described as 75 years without parole—should be reserved for the worst killers, such as Robert Pickton or Clifford Olson. Rooke stated there was a need for restraint to avoid a “crushing” sentence that would give Baumgartner some hope of freedom and deter him from committing further crimes in prison.

Rooke also said Baumgartner’s killings harmed the community and that, apart from guilty pleas, Baumgartner had not accepted responsibility. Rooke noted that a letter of remorse mentioned in the agreed statement of facts was not part of the court record.

In delivering the sentence, Rooke read lengthy portions of a few victim impact statements, which he said revealed the “heartbreak, sorrow and grief” left behind.

Rooke said the joint submission listed three mitigating factors:

• Baumgartner’s age
• his lack of a previous criminal record
• his guilty pleas

Rooke also said there were 10 aggravating factors, the most important of which was Baumgartner’s “treacherous breach of trust,” where he shot co-workers in the head while he was supposed to be watching their backs. Rooke stated: “The depth of the betrayal is remarkable,”.

Chief Crown prosecutor Steven Bilodeau made comments about the killings, including:

• “The message that Parliament sent unanimously to the court has obviously been heard loud and clear,”
• “Travis Baumgartner was supposed to be watching his fellow guards but instead shot them in their heads,”
• “The depth of the betrayal is remarkable.”
• “It is aggravating that his victims were vulnerable even though they were armed themselves. They were completely exposed.”
• “The depth of the betrayal is remarkable,” (repeated in court remarks as reported)

The sentencing remarks also included:

• Rooke calling Baumgartner’s killings “an ambush” and “cowardly.”
• Rooke stating: “These were assassinations and executions carried out by a cold-blooded killer with no respect for human life, all for the simple motive of robbery. These are some of the most horrendous crimes anyone can imagine. It’s difficult to describe the revulsion of society, this court and the public.”
• Rooke asking: “What was he possibly thinking?”

Bilodeau said the case warranted extraordinary punishment and said Baumgartner tried to flee the country with a bag of cash, stating: “He did it for money.” Bilodeau also said the judge agreed that Baumgartner clearly planned the robbery and when the time came, he chose to kill.

It was also stated that Baumgartner fled the scene, tried to avoid detection, and when caught made up a “preposterous and long charade,” claiming he had amnesia.

As part of his sentence, Baumgartner was banned from owning guns for the rest of his life.

Appeals

No appeal information was included in the provided text.

Outcome

Travis Baumgartner was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 40 years on September 11, 2013.

He was described as being able to first apply for parole when he would be 61 years old in 2052. It was stated that it was unlikely he would ever be granted parole, though that was discussed in the context of predictions made in court reporting.

Aftermath

After the sentencing, it was reported that Baumgartner was escorted from court by three provincial sheriffs that surrounded the prisoner’s box.

Statements from family members and victim impact statements included:

• Cleo Badon, widow of Eddie Rejano, was quoted describing her hatred and grief for taking her husband violently, including: “He will never come home to us,” and “I still find myself trying to call his cell phone.”
• Cleo Badon’s youngest son wiped away tears with a pink handkerchief as she spoke.
• Victor Shegelski told the court Baumgartner had robbed him of his “perfect woman,” and said: “I am exhausted and I wish I would die,” and: “I am exhausted and I wish I would die,” adding that the only reason he would not kill himself was because his wife would have wanted him to carry on.
• Mike and Dianne Ilesic said Baumgartner took away their son’s chance to watch his daughter grow, attend her graduation, and walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
• Dianne Ilesic said: “These deaths were violent!” and: “We ask God, 'Why, why did this happen?'”.
• Schuman’s statement was read for him; it said Baumgartner changed his life forever, taking his health, his career, and his pending marriage from him. Schuman wrote he lost a portion of his brain when he was shot and still could not feel the right side of his body, had vision loss, and risked having seizures. Schuman stated: “People say I am one of the lucky ones. I can promise you, most days it doesn’t feel like that. I don’t feel lucky that I lived and they all died.”

It was also reported that prior to his sentencing decision, court heard Baumgartner first claimed to police that he had been kidnapped and told by a man to drive to Seattle and deliver the bag of money or his family would be killed, and that later he confessed and cried and wrote letters of apology to the victims’ families.

Other details

Baumgartner’s sentencing hearing included discussion of a new law that allowed judges to order sentences to be served consecutively rather than concurrently for multiple murders. It was described as the Protecting Canadians by Ending Sentence Discounts for Multiple Murderers Act, which came into effect in late 2011.

The report also stated that Baumgartner was the first multiple murderer sentenced under a new law that allowed judges to order sentences be served consecutively rather than concurrently, and described that the possibility of reserving a maximum consecutive parole ineligibility period should be reserved for the worst killers.