Alison Parrott
Encyclopedia
Alison Parrott was an 11-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Toronto
, Canada. Her remains were found two evenings later in a densely-wooded area of Kings Mill Park.
's Varsity Stadium
where, he said, he would be taking publicity photos of her and her teammates: Alison, a member of the Tom Longboat Roadrunners
http://www.longboatroadrunners.com/, was to participate in an international track-and-field meet in Plainfield, New Jersey
, on 1 August, exactly a week later. She phoned her mother, Lesley, at work and got permission to attend the session (the same man had called 11 days earlier, while Alison had been at summer camp, asking for her). She then left to keep the appointment, leaving word with the family housekeeper. When she failed to return home by six p.m., Peter and Lesley Parrott inquired among their neighbours, none of whom had seen her; they then called police. Alison was found dead two evenings later in a densely-wooded area of Kings Mill Park, on the Humber River just below the Old Mill subway station: she had been raped and strangled.
In May, 1987, Lesley Parrott, aided by colleagues at the advertising agency where she worked, launched the Canada-wide "Stay Alert...Stay Safe" program. Aimed at children aged seven through 10, the program's main objective was to attune children's instincts to dangerous situations, whether at home or elsewhere: eventually it extended even to promoting safety on the Internet.
, was an avid runner with a keen interest in photography. He also had a long criminal record which included such offenses as burglary, petty theft, fraud, assault and rape. At the time of Alison's death, Roy had been on parole after serving only two and a half years of an 11-year sentence for the rapes of two teenaged girls, 19 and 14 years old. DNA evidence found in Alison's body linked him conclusively to Alison's death.
, Toronto, Ontario.
Plot: Section A, Lot 281, under a small flowering tree.
The "little park" is dedicated to Alison and the children of Summerhill in the neighbourhood where she lived.
titled "Answer in the Box; Maternal Instinct" follows the disappearance of Alison and subsequent investigation of the crime.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. Her remains were found two evenings later in a densely-wooded area of Kings Mill Park.
Disappearance
At about 11 o'clock on the morning of July 25, 1986, she received a phone call at her Summerhill Avenue home in midtown Toronto. A male caller, claiming to be a photographer, asked her to meet him at the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium
Varsity Stadium is a collegiate football stadium that is home to the Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. While the present structure was built in 2007, it is in fact the third major incarnation of the stadium that has occupied the same site...
where, he said, he would be taking publicity photos of her and her teammates: Alison, a member of the Tom Longboat Roadrunners
Longboat roadrunners
Longboat Roadrunners is a Toronto based club formed in 1980 to promote running and sportsmanship in general, and to provide a club atmosphere in which members may develop their running skills and participate in a program of social activities. Runners of all ages and skill levels are welcome in the...
http://www.longboatroadrunners.com/, was to participate in an international track-and-field meet in Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield, New Jersey
Plainfield is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population increased to a record high of 49,808....
, on 1 August, exactly a week later. She phoned her mother, Lesley, at work and got permission to attend the session (the same man had called 11 days earlier, while Alison had been at summer camp, asking for her). She then left to keep the appointment, leaving word with the family housekeeper. When she failed to return home by six p.m., Peter and Lesley Parrott inquired among their neighbours, none of whom had seen her; they then called police. Alison was found dead two evenings later in a densely-wooded area of Kings Mill Park, on the Humber River just below the Old Mill subway station: she had been raped and strangled.
In May, 1987, Lesley Parrott, aided by colleagues at the advertising agency where she worked, launched the Canada-wide "Stay Alert...Stay Safe" program. Aimed at children aged seven through 10, the program's main objective was to attune children's instincts to dangerous situations, whether at home or elsewhere: eventually it extended even to promoting safety on the Internet.
Trial
Almost exactly a decade after Parrott's murder, Francis Carl Roy was arrested for the crime on July 31, 1996. Roy, a Native Canadian from Manitoulin IslandManitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is a Canadian island in Lake Huron, in the province of Ontario. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. In addition to the historic Anishinaabe and European settlement of the island, archeological discoveries at Sheguiandah have demonstrated Paleo-Indian and...
, was an avid runner with a keen interest in photography. He also had a long criminal record which included such offenses as burglary, petty theft, fraud, assault and rape. At the time of Alison's death, Roy had been on parole after serving only two and a half years of an 11-year sentence for the rapes of two teenaged girls, 19 and 14 years old. DNA evidence found in Alison's body linked him conclusively to Alison's death.
Defence
Roy's only explanation for the DNA evidence was that he had discovered Alison's naked body while looking for a place to urinate while on a run in the park, once discovering the deceased body of Alison Parrott in the brush, he had a sudden urge to stick his finger inside her. Since he was uncircumcised, Roy had to push back the skin on his penis; having masturbated earlier that day, he still had semen on his hands.Verdict
The jury deliberated for six days, and on April 13, 1999, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole for 25 years. He will be eligible in 2024.Burial
Her remains were cremated. She is buried in Mount Pleasant CemeteryMount Pleasant Cemetery
Mount Pleasant Cemetery can refer to several different cemeteries, including:*Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada*Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Taunton, Massachusetts, USA*Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Newark, New Jersey, USA...
, Toronto, Ontario.
Plot: Section A, Lot 281, under a small flowering tree.
The "little park" is dedicated to Alison and the children of Summerhill in the neighbourhood where she lived.
Cold Case Files
The fourth episode of Cold Case FilesCold Case Files
Cold Case Files is documentary television series on the cable channel A&E Network hosted by Bill Kurtis that documents the investigation of various long-unsolved murders through the use of modern forensic science , and criminal psychology, in addition to recent breakthroughs in the...
titled "Answer in the Box; Maternal Instinct" follows the disappearance of Alison and subsequent investigation of the crime.