After tying up, torturing and sexually assaulting them, Giesbrecht stabbed both boys, killing Klassen, and set fire to the house.
Despite his injuries, including a slit throat and third-degree burns to 25% of his body, Pelke managed to escape and alerted a neighbour.
Pelke became a firefighter, inspirational speaker and victim's rights advocate, visiting and forgiving Giesbrecht while he was in prison.
Giesbrecht was granted temporary absences from prison starting in 2010, against Pelke's testimony that, "A life sentence was given and, as such, should be served.
"[3] In 2020, Giesbrecht was granted full parole, a conditional release that allows an offender to serve part of a prison sentence in the community, though he was forbidden from returning to Altona.