Frances Elaine Campione, the Barrie, Ontario, woman convicted of murdering her two young daughters nearly two decades ago, has been granted permission to leave prison on escorted temporary absences. The Parole Board of Canada approved the absences for Campione, who is serving a life sentence for the first-degree murders of her daughters, three-year-old Serena and 19-month-old Sophia, in October 2006.
A Crime of Vindictive Hatred
The horrific events unfolded on October 2, 2006, in the family's Barrie apartment. Campione, then 34, drowned her daughters in the bathtub, holding their heads underwater for an estimated two minutes. She then dressed the girls in their best clothes and posed them on a bed. Following the act, she called police and confessed.
Prosecutors at her 2010 trial described the murders as an act of "pure, vindictive hatred" stemming from a bitter custody battle with her estranged husband, Leo Campione. The court heard that she made a video for him after killing the children, stating, "Leo, are you happy? Everything's gone... The idea that you could actually have my children – God believes me, and God's taking care of them now." She was convicted and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.
Path to Temporary Release
According to recent reports, the Parole Board has now approved a plan for Campione, who now uses the surname Goodine, to leave prison under strict supervision. The board's decision cited several factors:
- She has been classified as a minimum-security inmate since 2015 and has had no disciplinary incidents.
- She has completed numerous prison programs addressing her behaviour and mental health.
- Correctional Service of Canada staff and support letters indicated she presents a low risk to reoffend.
- Her long history of mental health issues was noted, though the board stated she grew up in a stable home, finished college, and held a job before motherhood.
The approved plan involves 58 escorted absences over 12 months, totaling approximately 177 hours outside the institution. The activities are highly structured, primarily involving attendance at religious services. She will be accompanied at all times by trained escorts, travel in a government vehicle, and is not permitted any secondary stops.
Reactions and the Victims' Legacy
The decision inevitably draws attention back to the young victims, Serena and Sophia Campione, whose lives were cut short. The Parole Board's report acknowledges the gravity of the crime, describing Campione's actions as stemming from a narcissistic need to be the centre of a narrative, with her children treated as "extras" in her drama.
While the legal system moves forward with a focus on rehabilitation and reintegration, the case remains a stark reminder of a profound family tragedy. The absences mark a new phase in Campione's incarceration, but for the community of Barrie and the girls' family, the loss endures. Campione's next parole eligibility date is scheduled for 2031.
