The Wells Gray Park Murders

Canadian True Crime

Kristi Lee

Society & Culture, True Crime, History

4.7 • 5K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2025

⏱️ 96 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In August 1982, three generations of a family set out for a two week camping trip in the wilds of British Columbia.

When the entire family failed to return home, it triggered the most expensive and publicized manhunt in Canadian history — and uncovered a horrific truth that shocked the nation.

Additional content warning: this episode includes the murder and sexual assault of a child. Minimal graphic details will be given. Please take care when listening.

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SIGN THE PETITION | The Johnson-Bentley family needs your help. The man who murdered six of their loved ones – including two young girls, is again seeking parole in 2026. The family has asked us to share this updated and remastered episode to remind the public of the danger his release could pose.

Please read and sign the family’s petition now and show your support. The deadline is fast approaching.

Special thanks to Shelley Boden of the Johnson-Bentley family for speaking to us for this updated and remastered episode. The original, titled "The Johnson-Bentley Family Murders" was posted in April 2021.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Canadian True Crime is a completely independent production, funded mainly through advertising.
0:04.6	You can listen to Canadian True Crime ad-free and early on Amazon music included with Prime,
0:09.6	Apple Podcasts, Patreon, and Supercast.
0:12.5	The podcast often has disturbing content and coarse language.
0:16.1	It's not for everyone.
0:17.9	Hi there, I hope you'll well.
0:20.0	The Wells Gray Park murders are considered among the most
0:23.4	heinous crimes in Canadian history. A judge described it as the senseless, ruthless,
0:29.5	cold-blooded slaughter of six defenseless victims, a slaughter that devastated three generations of a
0:36.5	single family, grandparents, parents, and two young
0:40.4	daughters wiped out. The disappearance of the Johnson-Bentley family triggered one of the most
0:46.6	expensive and publicized criminal investigations in Canada, a nationwide search that shocked
0:53.5	the country and dominated headlines.
0:56.6	More than five years ago, we released an episode about this crime, and today, at the request
1:02.9	of the family, we're releasing it again, remastered and updated. They need your help, and in a second
1:10.4	I'll explain why it's urgent.
1:13.4	Hi. My name is Shelley Bowden. I'm the niece of Bob and Jackie. And Janet and Karen were my
1:21.0	two cousins. And Jordan, neither Bentley, are Maggie Jackie's mom and dad. They were camping in Wells Great Park in 1982, and there was a monster in the bushes.
1:36.4	That monster in the bushes was eventually captured and convicted.
1:41.5	But during the trial, no motive was ever presented. It was only after sentencing
1:47.6	that he finally admitted his true motivations. Even though decades have passed, this case is not
1:56.0	over. The perpetrator is expected to apply for parole again next year, and the family is again
	...

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