Melissa Todorovic, the mastermind who orchestrated the murder of her teenage romantic rival almost two decades ago, has been granted day parole.
The Parole Board of Canada’s decision to approve Todorovic’s parole application means she will live at a community-based housing facility with strict conditions for six months, according to the decision released to the Star on Thursday. The residential facility offers resources to ensure there is “no escalation” in her risk to reoffend, it says.
The decision also supports the Correction Service of Canada’s recommendation not to grant full parole, calling it “premature.”Â
Todorovic was 15-years-old when she convinced her then boyfriend, 17-year-old David Bagshaw, to murder 14-year-old Stefanie Rengel on New Year’s Day in 2008. Bagshaw stabbed Rengel six times, leaving her to die in a snowbank near her family home.
Despite never meeting Rengel, she had become the focus of Todorovic’s jealously — simply because she briefly dated Bagshaw years earlier. Several online and text messages showed Todorovic repeatedly threatened to end her relationship with Bagshaw or withhold sex unless he killed her.Â
Melissa Todorovic, at age 15, is interviewed by homicide Det.-Sgt Steve Ryan at 54 Division police station in East York on Jan. 2, 2008.
FreelanceIn 2009, both Bagshaw and Todorovic were convicted of first-degree murder in Rengel’s death. Todorovic was tried as a young offender but sentenced as an adult to life in prison. She applied for parole after seven years.
In December 2018, Todorovic was granted six months of day parole, though her release was suspended a few months in. She was brought back to prison early after it was revealed that she had become entangled in a secret love triangle with two men who were also former convicted criminals. They were also friends with one another.
The board found Todorovic repeatedly breached a condition of her release that required her to disclose any new relationships to her parole officer. She appealed the decision to revoke her parole, but it was dismissed. She was also denied the full parole she sought in August 2020.
On Sept. 12, a two-member panel with the parole board heard Todorovic’s most recent application for parole. In their decision released this week, the panellists said the crime she committed “was sinister in nature and involved a high degree of callousness.”
Still, this time around, they said the board gave “greater weight” to various factors that decrease her risk of reoffending. Todorovic made “notable progress” while in custody, including through psychological counselling and various programming, the decision reads.
Todorovic also worked on furthering her education, the board said. She completed a bicycle mechanic course, took university courses online and plans to start a college program in the new year.Â
Once released on day parole, Todorovic is required to follow a number of conditions, including to report all sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships to her parole supervisor, avoid any contact with the victim’s family, follow a treatment plan and respect a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.Â
“Given that your risk elevated within a short time after your previous day parole release, you should demonstrate sustained stability in the community before such privileges could be considered,” the board wrote.
Todorovic is also restricted from owning more than one cellphone or SIM card without permission. She must provide her supervisor with detailed billing statements showing all her phone calls and, upon request, unlock her devices to allow monitoring of any texts, calls, photos, videos and social media.Â
With files from Rosie DiManno and The Canadian Press
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