Man who killed woman pregnant with his child in 2007 granted escorted absences from prison

Man who killed woman pregnant with his child in 2007 granted escorted absences from prison

Nathanael Plourde, 39, serving life sentence for murder of Roxanne Fernando, 24

WARNING: This story contains details of intimate partner violence.

A Winnipeg man who admitted to violently killing a woman pregnant with his child nearly two decades ago in a "coldly conceived" murder has been granted six months of escorted temporary absences from prison to work toward becoming a carpenter.

Nathanael Plourde, 39, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years in 2009, after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2007 killing of Roxanne Fernando, 24.

The Parole Board of Canada granted Plourde escorted temporary absences in March for "personal development for rehabilitative purposes," according to a decision obtained by CBC News.

Plourde will continue developing work skills and earning hours toward his carpentry apprenticeship during those absences, the decision says.

In making its decision, the board said it needed to determine whether Plourde presents a risk to society and whether it was "desirable" for him to be able to leave his prison facility.

The board reviewed victim impact statements that "speak to the lifelong trauma and pain" from Fernando's family, its decision says. It also noted Plourde's remorse and acknowledgement of the "coldly conceived and deliberately executed" murder.

Plourde previously applied for early parole under the now repealed "faint hope" clause in Canada's Criminal Code, after serving 15 years of his sentence, but that was denied by jury in 2024.

He is not able to apply for parole eligibility until he has served his 25-year minimum.

During the 2024 court hearing, Plourde testified about the killing for the first time, revealing he planned it for weeks and wanted Fernando dead because of the pregnancy.

Court heard Plourde beat Fernando to death with a wrench on Feb. 15, 2007, while they were on what she thought was a date. In fact, a 17-year-old was hidden in the back seat of the vehicle Plourde was driving.

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"She had wanted to be in a relationship with you, but you did not want the same," the parole board's decision says.

Plourde admitted in court to hitting Fernando 20 times in the head with a monkey wrench. He then picked up Jose Toruno, who later beat Fernando with a broken hockey stick.

Toruno and the 17-year-old then helped Plourde move Fernando to a snow-filled ditch in a remote area at the northwestern edge of Winnipeg.

Her body was found buried in a snowbank a few days after. An autopsy showed Fernando bled to death after suffering 14 distinct injuries. Jurors were told that the back of the 24-year-old's skull had been fractured nearly ear-to-ear.

Winnipeg police announced the arrests of Plourde, Toruno and the 17-year-old in February 2007. The teen pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was given a youth sentence of six years. Toruno pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and got a life sentence with no chance of parole for 15 years in 2009.

Plourde pleaded guilty that same year. Jurors in 2024 heard that during his imprisonment, he adopted Christianity, completed university courses, took up carpentry and completed suicide prevention work.

'Gradual and structured release'

The parole board says Plourde has no other criminal history. He was raised by his parents with "no forms of abuse," but began to use drugs and alcohol in his mid-teens.

He was heavily abusing alcohol and drugs in the lead-up to Fernando's murder, which caused him "to not think of the consequences" of his actions, the board wrote.

Due to his "personal and emotional situation at the time," Plourde was "unable to formulate appropriate and pro-social solutions" to his situation "and, as a result, acted in a violent manner," the decision says.

A psychological risk assessment in 2025 found him to be a moderate-low to low risk to reoffend. He was assessed as a moderate risk to be violent toward a partner or ex-partner, but a low risk toward others in a family context, the board said.

Plourde, who has been in a minimum security facility since 2019, has not "demonstrated any problematic institutional conduct," the board said.

He has also participated in numerous escorted temporary absences for various reasons "with no concerns or issues" since 2022, the board said.

He also participated in programs dealing with violence prevention and substance abuse, the board said.

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Given his sentence, the board said it found a need for "slow, gradual and structured release," and that the escorted temporary absences will "further allow for the necessary steps" as he reintegrates into society.

"You have made notable gains over the course of your lengthy sentence," the board said.

But it added "facilitators noted you … would need to be vigilant with self monitoring, challenge harmful thinking, and remain committed to making positive changes."