Clifford Robert Olson Jr. (January 1, 1940 – September 30, 2011)[1] was a Canadian convicted serial killer who confessed to murdering 11 children and teenagers (who were aged between 9 and 18) in the early 1980s.
[9] He reached a controversial deal with authorities, agreeing to confess to the 11 murders and show the RCMP the location of the bodies of those not yet recovered.
In return, authorities agreed that C$10,000 for each victim was paid into a trust for his wife, Joan, and then-infant son, Clifford III.
[10] In January 1982, Olson pleaded guilty to 11 counts of murder and was given as many concurrent life sentences to be served in Canada's super-maximum security Special Handling Unit in Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines, Quebec, which houses many of the country's most dangerous criminals.
[15] At his sentencing January 14, 1982, Justice McKay, the trial judge remarked, "My considered opinion is that you should never be granted parole for the remainder of your days.
[10][17] Canadian law allows inmates convicted of first-degree murder to apply for parole after serving a minimum of 25 years.
[17] Olson made many bizarre and false claims, including that the United States had granted him clemency for providing information about the September 11 attacks and that the hearing had no jurisdiction over him because of that.
[20] Controversy developed in March 2010 when the media disclosed that Olson was receiving two federal government benefits from Canada while imprisoned, a total of C$1,169.47 monthly.
All persons who meet residency requirements as to length of time in Canada are eligible to receive this pension at age 65, and Olson turned 70 on January 1, 2010.