HUNTER: Serial killer Russell Johnson should never be sprung

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The drab institution offers grand views of Georgian Bay and the surrounding boreal landscape.

It’s a stark contradiction: Behind its walls are people we once called criminally insane. Generations of psychopaths have called Penetanguishene their home.

Now named the antiseptic-sounding Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, the institution remains ground zero for some of this country’s most dangerous criminals.

Russell Johnson remains dangerous

One of its residents is a man named Russell Johnson, 79. He may be old and feeble now, but don’t kid yourself: Johnson is a serial killer and remains extremely dangerous.

But thanks to Canada’s lusty embrace of soft-on-crime laws, Johnson recently was gifted another Ontario Review Board (ORB) hearing. He had been found not guilty of his heinous crimes by reason of insanity.

And once again, family members of his victims are put through the charade of a hearing. Midland Today reported that more than 30 people recently attended the two-hour hearing. Johnson skipped the proceedings, attempting to determine treatment and where he might land.

A St. Thomas native, Johnson raped and murdered at least seven women in London and Guelph in the early 1970s. Cops have always suspected there are more victims.

The bodybuilder and Ford employee would eventually become known as the “Bedroom Strangler.” He has left nothing but tears in his cruel wake.

Killed first victim in fall of 1973

Cops believe Johnson killed for the first time in the fall of 1973 when he murdered Mary-Catherine Hicks, 20, a Western University student, as she slept. The case would not be solved until 1977, when the killer confessed.

Later that same fall, he murdered Alice Ralston, 42, at her Guelph home. In the summer of 1974, he struck again, killing Eleanor Hartwick, 27. In the above three cases, cops initially put the deaths down to ODs or natural causes.

Newly-engaged Diane Beitz’s body was discovered on New Year’s Eve 1974. She had been strangled with a bra and her hands tied behind her back with a nylon stocking. It later emerged that Johnson knew Beitz via his ex-wife.

It would take until Louella George, 23, was murdered in London that cops clued in they were dealing with a serial killer.

Johnson’s final murder was the slaying of Donna Veldboom, 22, on July 16, 1977. It was the first time he had stabbed one of his victims to death. He was arrested in July 1977.

‘Still lacks insight’

Russell Johnson has now been locked up for nearly 50 years at the bug house. It is exactly where he belongs and if there were any doubts, the hearing dispelled them. He is going nowhere.

His headshrinker, Dr. Achal Mishra, told the panel that Johnson “still lacks insight into why he did what he did,” Midland Today reported. He has also stopped taking drugs that dampen his rampaging sex drive.

Mishra testified that another patient advised the serial killer to ditch the drugs. Even Mishra of the caring professions seemed to throw up his hands.

“Not much has changed that would indicate lowering the risk,” Mishra said. “The risk has not diminished. I’ve never met anyone like him before.”

Johnson’s lawyer suggested a transfer to a medium-security institution. Cue the laugh track.

While it’s unlikely Russell Johnson, serial killer, will ever see the light of day, survivors of his victims will continue to be victimized with these pointless hearings. The only end in sight will be when Johnson catches the night train to Nowheresville.

Until then, there will be hopeless hearings after hopeless hearings.

After all, it’s the Canadian way.

bhunter@postmedia.com

@HunterTOSun

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