The man responsible for the shocking death of a young Chatham boy nearly 28 years ago has been denied full parole because of concerns he many reoffend.
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Jeffrey Wayne Manley was 18 when he sexually assaulted and then brutally beat seven-year-old Danny Miller to death on April 23, 1994. Originally charged with first-degree murder, Manley, now 46, was convicted of second-degree murder in 1995 and sentenced to life in prison, along with a lifetime weapon prohibition.
A written decision by the Parole Board of Canada, dated Feb. 16, cited a November 2021 psychological risk assessment that rated Manley as an “above-average risk for sexual recidivism, and noted (his) low range of cognitive functioning.”
While the board’s report acknowledged Manley had been working to control his “risk factors,” the decision noted Manley’s crime was “egregious and rests on a foundation of concerning and escalating violence against children.”
It is the parole board’s “opinion that you will present an undue risk to society if released and that your release will not contribute to the protection of society by facilitating your reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen,” the decision stated.
Manley had previously waived his right to a parole review hearing, but legislative changes require the board to still consider his case through an in-office review.
“You waived your right to a hearing, and indicate your plan is to cascade to minimum security and seek a gradual release from there,” the board reported.
Manley also expressed interest in residing in another unnamed community instead of returning to the Chatham-Kent region.
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In April 1994, Manley lured the young boy from a school playground to a nearby abandoned building.
“Following a pattern of past offences, you lured the boy to fulfill your sexually deviant interests,” the parole board report stated.
After killing the child, the report noted Manley visited family members and, when they noticed blood on his clothing, “you told them you had found a body and they contacted police.”
“Based on inconsistencies in the scene and your story, and matching shoe prints between your shoe and marks on the body, police arrested you, and you did not receive bail,” the decision outlined.
Manley initially denied responsibility for the killing and appealed his conviction but later abandoned that appeal, the report noted.
“Much later, after programming, you admitted you had inappropriate sexual thoughts about children, and admitted to attacking (the boy) with a brick after realizing he could identify you.”
File documentation indicated the judge called his actions savage, sustained and unprovoked.
The written decision also delved into Manley’s troubled family life, including his parents eventual divorce after several separations, his multiple health issues and his struggles at school.
Manley also reported being bullied and sexually abused as a child.
“You have described that you had trouble making friends your own age and that you had to conceal your homosexuality, so you associated with children,” the report stated.
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Manley was previously rated as a moderate to high risk for reoffending based on the General Statistical Information on Recidivism risk assessment tool.
“Based on concerns that your offending against children may have been sexually motivated, you underwent a specialized sex offender assessment at admission into federal custody,” the decision said.
Reports from April 1996 and February 1997 found Manley displayed “significant becoming sexual attraction to children.”
“At the time, you denied that this motivated your offences, and refused to participate in sex offender programming for many years,” the decision stated.
The report also noted Manley successfully completed several programs from 2004 to 2016, including cognitive skills, anger and emotions management, a high-intensity sex offender program and an integrated correctional program model sex offender primer.
“You identified your risk factors as ineffective problem-solving, unhealthy relationships, unhealthy intimate relationships, poor emotions management, problematic sexual interests, and risky sexual behavior,” the decision stated.
The most recent report indicated Manley had developed a good ability to manage these risk factors and did not recommend further maintenance.
Manley also began taking sex drive-reducing medication in 2015 and had “expressed relief at how it has alleviated (his) sexual dreams and urges,” the report said.
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All his urinalyses have been negative for substance abuse.
Manley has been serving his award at a medium security institution since 2010, where he maintains institutional employment in a position of trust.
A correctional plan update by Correctional Service of Canada on Oct. 28, 2021, assessed Manley as having moderate needs in the areas of personal/emotional, marital/family, and community function, and low needs in attitude, education/employment, and association . Correctional services rated his accountability and motivation level as high while his reintegration potential as medium.
It was also noted a clinician believes Manley “has maximized the benefit” of his current institution and is ready for a transfer to minimum security “where you could participate in temporary absences and complete additional maintenance programming.”