Winnipeg man who escaped from rehab facility back in police custody

A Manitoba man charged in the death of a 28-year-old woman from Portage la Prairie, a case that sparked major calls for bail reform in the province, has again violated conditions of his release.

“This is an absolute failure of this justice system,” said Portage la Prairie MLA and Deputy PC Leader Jeff Bereza.

James Lorne Hilton, 25, is accused of driving a stolen truck that caused the car crash and death of Kellie Verwey on January 15.

He was out on bail at the time of Verwey’s death, which led to Manitoba MLA’s unanimously passing a motion calling for bail reform earlier this year. Now, over the weekend, he walked out of a treatment facility where he was ordered to stay as he awaits trial for charges related to Verwey’s death. Officers apprehended him late Tuesday afternoon, after his family and elected officials spoke to media about their fears. 

“We are terrified right now that he is going to kill someone else,” said Meechelle Best, the mother of Kellie Verwey, Tuesday morning, when Hilton was still on the lam. 

“We went through the bail hearing to put our faith in the justice system that this would be the best outcome for Mr. Hilton to be able to attend a treatment centre and possibly do better and be a better person.”

Verwey’s mother says she learned Monday that he walked out of an unsecured treatment centre just hours after he was transferred from a secure facility over the weekend. 

“Once again, he has thumbed his nose at justice, just as he did the morning he left Kellie Verwey to die on the side of the road,” said Bereza.

Hilton does not wear an ankle bracelet. The province says 128 of its 200 ankle bracelets were in use as of August 28, but were not ordered by the judge in this case.

After speaking to reporters Tuesday, Best and her husband, Ron, met with Manitoba’s justice minister, Matt Wiebe. 

“Maybe what we’ve done so far are steps. They’re baby steps and we need more steps and we need bigger steps and we need them sooner than later,” Best recapped after the meeting. 

“The federal government is beginning to pay attention but there’s things that we can do in the province for these types of infractions that are going to make a difference to the everyday lives of everyday Manitobans. And that’s what Ron and I want to happen.”

Best hopes future changes will also make a difference for first responders. She says the firefighters who pulled Verwey out of her vehicle knew her from a young age and the funeral director who put her in a body bag was also a personal friend.

“I want you to know how impactful this has been not only on family and friends but on our first responders and we really need to get it together for them or no one’s going to do this job and we’re going to be in a lot more trouble,” said Best.

Bereza added, “Yesterday proved once again that criminals are running this province. Not this government and Manitobans are paying the price. When will this be enough? When will this government take real action?” 

In response, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe echoed his support for the family and bail reform. 

“We’ve been clear that we’re going to take every action that we can at the provincial level to make sure that we’re taking action on bail. What that meant here in the province of Manitoba is our five-point bail plan. It’s bringing back electronic monitoring, it’s about giving more resources to the WPS here in the city and outside of the perimeter, making sure that the RCMP has the resources that they need to make sure they’re going after folks who are out on bail who have breached their conditions,” he said. 

Manitoba MLA’s unanimously passed a motion to call for bail reform on March 10, what would have been Verwey’s 29^th birthday. 

Manitoba RCMP issued an arrest warrant for Hilton Tuesday afternoon for breaching the conditions of his release order, which included residing at the treatment centre, abiding by the curfews there and surrendering himself to police headquarters if he leaves for any reason.

Just over an hour later, Hilton was taken into custody in Winnipeg without incident.