Woman convicted in murder of Loretta Saunders loses leave privileges
The Woman Convicted in the Murder of Loretta Saunders Loses Unescorted Prison Leave
Victoria Lea Henneberry, now 39 years old, is currently serving a life sentence for the second-degree murder of Loretta Saunders in 2014. Saunders, a young Inuk woman from Labrador, was tragically killed by Henneberry and her then-boyfriend, Blake Leggette, while they were subletting an apartment from her in Halifax.
On the day before Valentine’s Day, Saunders went to collect rent from Henneberry and Leggette, and that’s when the gruesome murder took place. They killed Saunders, stuffed her body into a hockey bag, and fled in her car. Her body was later found dumped alongside the Trans-Canada Highway in New Brunswick, and Henneberry and Leggette were apprehended in Ontario a few days later.
Henneberry had been granted a 30-day unescorted temporary absence last fall to assist her in preparing for a potential release back into society. However, during this absence, she violated the conditions set forth by the Parole Board of Canada.
The Parole Board of Canada made the decision to revoke Henneberry’s temporary absence on Christmas Eve. The board cited her emotional instability, rule-breaking behavior, and outstanding risk issues as reasons for their decision.
It was reported that Henneberry used a phone and accessed the internet, both of which were violations of her release conditions. Additionally, she began discussing suicidal thoughts when confronted about her actions, displaying a dismissive attitude towards her rule-breaking behavior.
As a consequence of her actions, Henneberry lost the support of her Case Management Team. Her accomplice, Blake Leggette, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 25 years before he can be eligible for parole.
Henneberry’s minimum prison term was initially set at 10 years, which prompted authorities to provide her with reintegration opportunities. However, her recent behavior has led to the revocation of her unescorted prison leave.
