In a shocking update from British Columbia, Gerald Leslie Dolman, a 72-year-old inmate condemned to life behind bars for a heinous murder, has passed away in prison. According to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), Dolman had been serving an indeterminate sentence since December 1, 2017, at the Pacific Institution's Regional Treatment Centre in Abbotsford.

Though the CSC has remained tight-lipped regarding the details surrounding Dolman's death, the haunting story of his crime continues to reverberate through the community. The grisly incident took place on May 3, 2016, when Dolman brutally stabbed 49-year-old Robert Thomas Splitt at least 52 times, a shocking act that unfolded in a busy parking lot in downtown Chilliwack.

The sequence of events leading to this tragedy began when Dolman returned home from visiting his sick mother, only to discover that $600 had mysteriously vanished from his home. His live-in girlfriend, Rebecca Burns, had spent the night, and police reports indicated that she had left in Splitt's vehicle while Dolman was out, leading to Dolman's feelings of betrayal. Dolman's emotional attachment to Burns added an unsettling layer to the crime — he believed that she and Splitt had conspired against him.

Fueled by rage, Dolman embarked on a reckless pursuit of Splitt and, in a series of dangerous maneuvers, struck a cyclist and caused a multi-vehicle crash while careening through the downtown area. The murderous encounter culminated in a public stabbing outside a grocery store, where Dolman relentlessly attacked Splitt through the window of his vehicle before continuing the assault as Splitt attempted to escape.

Following the attack, Dolman did not flee the scene but remained cooperative with police, leading to his arrest. He ultimately pleaded guilty, resulting in an automatic life sentence. The B.C. Supreme Court set his parole eligibility at 11 years, a decision grounded in his expressed remorse and lack of significant prior criminal offenses. However, the judge also emphasized the brutality of the crime, noting that it occurred in broad daylight amid a throng of innocent onlookers.

Dolman's death on September 24 came nearly eight years into his sentence, prompting a review of the case by the CSC, in conjunction with the B.C. Coroners Service.

This tragic case serves as a grim reminder of the violence that can erupt over personal betrayal and the consequences of unchecked emotions. As the community reflects on the aftermath of this horrific crime, questions linger not only about Dolman's life and actions but also about the systemic issues surrounding violent offenders and rehabilitation in the corrections system.