Newfoundland Woman Unaware of Ex-Husband's Release for Three Days, Raising IPV Safety Concerns
A western Newfoundland woman identified as PB says her safety was jeopardized after the justice system failed to notify her that her ex-husband, DM, had been released from prison. Advocates are now calling for mandatory reporting to intimate partner violence victims when offenders are released.
A woman in western Newfoundland, identified only as PB, says her life could have been in jeopardy for three full days because she was not informed that her ex-husband, DM, had been released from prison.
DM was sentenced to one year of imprisonment in June 2026 following convictions for intimate partner violence offenses. In October 2025, he was convicted of assault, assault causing bodily harm, failure to comply with release orders, and breaches of recognizances related to an extremely violent assault against PB earlier that year. In June 2026, he was further convicted of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, criminal harassment, and breaches of court and probation orders.
Judge Wayne Gorman imposed a banishment order preventing DM from being in Corner Brook or Mount Moriah during his three-year probation. Judge Gorman cited "grave concerns" about PB's safety due to the 2025 assault and DM's failure to abide by previous release conditions.
In August, after serving the minimum one-sixth of his sentence, DM applied for temporary absence. Victim Services notified PB of the application. However, PB was not informed when the application was approved or when DM was subsequently released to a halfway house located an hour's drive from her home. She discovered his release only after calling back to inquire about the status of his application.
PB stated that she lacked high alert precautions during the unnotified period, leaving her feeling that her safety was jeopardized.
Paula Sheppard, executive director of the Corner Brook Status of Women Council, made inquiries after learning of the release. Following her intervention, DM was transferred to a halfway house in St. John's. Sheppard criticized the lack of communication and called for mandatory reporting to intimate partner violence victims regarding offender releases, expressing concern over systemic missteps in the notification process.
The Department of Justice and Public Safety stated that if a victim has requested information about an offender's release, attempts will be made to inform the victim.