Killer’s bid for full parole denied again, but board grants more freedom

Convicted murderer Michael Bridges’ request for full release as been denied again, but the Parole Board of Canada has incrementally increased his privileges.

In 2005 Bridges was sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole until 2029 for the killing of 18-year-old Erin Chorney. In a 2021 “faint hope” hearing, a jury found Bridges should be allowed to apply for parole in June 2026.

In 2002 Bridges strangled and drowned Chorney in a bathtub and buried her body in another person’s grave in Brandon.

He wasn’t arrested until police set up a “Mr. Big” sting operation in 2004 when he confessed the crime to an undercover police officer.

Bridges’ weekend passes have been increased to 72 hours from the previous 48 hours, and he now lives in a halfway house, which he will continue to live in for at least six more months.

His reintegration potential was reassessed from “low” at the time of his intake into custody to “medium.”

“Having weighed all the available information, the Board is satisfied that your current risk remains manageable in the community with the structure, supervision, and support that the (halfway house) provides, and the imposition of special conditions,” the Oct. 30 decision says.

In 2024 the parole board granted Bridges day parole for a period of six months, with leave privileges included. His parole has continued in six-month increments since then and he has been working full time and has been allowed weekend leave passes to stay in his own apartment.

In May his bid for full parole was denied because he failed a drug test and was seen to still pose a risk of violence.

The May 7 decision said a December 2025 urinalysis came back positive for cocaine, which Bridges denied using. A second test came back with a “diluted” result, which the 46-year-old explained was a result of drinking too much water prior to the test.

“(Correctional Service of Canada) notes there are compelling reasons to believe that your positive test results, from December 2025, (were) accurate. It was also noted that when you were providing the diluted sample, you presented as someone hyper aware of their urine quality, and while they acknowledge that could have been innocent or a coincidence, it is not typical behaviour,” the decision states.

It notes Bridges denied drug use and “failed to take accountability,” which means the circumstances surrounding his drug use is unknown.

Since then Bridges submitted several urine tests, all of which came back negative for substance use.

The decision also notes Bridges has trouble regulating his emotions. It says after the urine tests came back positive and diluted, his overnight passes were suspended and he reacted “emotionally and inappropriately” when his parole supervisor needed time to consider his request to reinstate the pass.

“The (manager) needed to become involved. (Corrections Service of Canada) states that these incidents highlight your difficulties with emotional regulation, particularly in moments of perceived uncertainty, delay, or unmet expectations. It has been asserted that this may also reflect your attitudes toward women in positions of authority,” the decision says.

Conditions were imposed requiring Bridges to not consume, purchase, or possess drugs or alcohol, report relationships with women, and not to contact the victim’s family, which will continue for at least six more months.

nicole.buffie@winnipegfreepress.com