Police warn of sex offender's return
Travis Casaway targeted and attacked two young girls in 2002
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 10, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknife RCMP are warning residents to be on the lookout for a violent sex offender who has returned to Yellowknife after sexually assaulting two young girls in 2002.
RCMP released this photo of convicted sex offender Travis Casaway yesterday afternoon after news of his return began circulating around the city earlier this week. He served five years in jail for sexually assaulting two girls, ages 11 and 12, in 2002 when he was 15 years old. RCMP initially refused to say whether Casaway is currently living in Yellowknife after Yellowknife Catholic Schools sent a warning Monday to parents warning of an unnamed sex offender in the city. The father of one of Casaway's victims said he's been told by RCMP that Casaway returned about a month ago. - photo courtesy of RCMP G-Division |
Police say Travis Casaway, 27, "poses a risk of significant harm to the public."
He is five feet, nine inches tall, 201 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
The RCMP warning comes after Yellowknife Catholic Schools e-mailed a letter to parents on Monday stating a registered sex offender is back in the city but were not permitted to release the man's name.
RCMP initially refused to release any information on the case, including the man's name, when Yellowknifer inquired earlier this week, citing "privacy reasons."
A man whose daughter was sexually assaulted by Casaway at knife point when she was 11 years old, however, told Yellowknifer he was informed by RCMP that Casaway has been back in Yellowknife for about a month.
RCMP did not immediately alert the public because they say doing so requires a thorough review that must determine whether the need for public disclosure outweighs the invasion of privacy that comes with identifying the man.
Casaway was convicted in 2004 of sexual assault and sexual assault with a weapon. He was 15 years old when he targeted and sexually assaulted two young girls walking outside alone in the fall of 2002.
Due to the severity of the crimes and the likelihood of re-offending,
he was sentenced as an adult and declared a long-term offender. The designation can impose parole board supervision for up to 10 years and is one step down from dangerous offender status, which allows the courts to impose an indefinite prison sentence.
He spent five years in jail in Yellowknife after which he reportedly headed to Edmonton upon release in February 2009.
Edmonton's police service issued a warning on its website after learning of his release.
Casaway's first victim in Yellowknife was a 12-year-old girl who was walking home on a trail behind Sir John Franklin High School on Sept. 29, 2002.
The second was a knife point assault on an 11-year-old girl walking on Gitzel Street near the McMahon Frame Lake Trail on Oct. 8, 2002.
Court heard that in the first attack Casaway grabbed the girl, blindfolded her and told her not to scream or he would kill her. Casaway then sexually assaulted her.
He also threatened her, saying he knew where she lived and would tie her up and throw her in the lake if she told anyone. Court heard she initially didn't tell her parents because she believed him. She said the attack lasted 45 minutes.
Just nine days later, Casaway grabbed another girl and held a knife to her throat and sexually assaulted her on a park bench.
In the notice to parents, officials with Yellowknife Catholic Schools officials stated they felt it was important to advise parents of the situation so they can take appropriate actions to protect their children.
The letter states teachers are reviewing general key safety measures with students such as not to talk to strangers, what to do when approached by a stranger, ensuring younger children have a friend or adult with them while playing
outside, the importance of older students not walking alone after dark and how kids can get help if they are in an uncomfortable situation.
"These are topics that are important to discuss with our students on a regular basis and we encourage parents to also have these conversations with your child at home," the letter states.
"Our goal is to keep our students safe and to highlight to parents any possible situation where their kids could be in an unsafe situation," said Claudia Parker, superintendent of Yellowknife Catholic Schools, when asked about the letter.
Steve Payne, co-owner of Ragged Ass Barbers, is among several people who have posted a photo of Casaway from 2009 on his Facebook page.
"I have a 13-year- old daughter and I want to make sure all Yellowknifers with daughters are aware he is in the city," said Payne.
RCMP state that yesterday's news release is "not intended to encourage people to engage in any form of vigilante action."
