Steven Bacon sentenced to life in prison for murder of Nanaimo teen Makayla Chang
Warning: This story contains graphic details
Steven Bacon, the man who pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Nanaimo teen Makayla Chang in 2017, has received a life sentence.
The courtroom was emotional when his sentence was read on Friday. He will be ineligible for parole for 20 years.
A photo of Makayla Chang at a memorial for the slain teen. (CTV News)
"It’s been a long time coming, we’ve been waiting six years for this day," said Chang's father, Kerry Chang.
Chang was last seen outside a Nanaimo Tim Hortons in March 2017. She was 16 years old at the time of her disappearance.
Her body was found by police roughly two months later and her death was considered a homicide.
NEW DETAILS
Crying could be heard in the courtroom as Crown offered a submission of facts and disturbing details about Chang's death were presented.
It was heard that Bacon and Chang had an argument, which caused the man, who was 57 years old at the time, to push the teen back, causing her to hit her head.
Shortly after, he decided to choke Chang to death.
Bacon then enlisted the help of his landlord to transport Chang's body to a rural area near Nanaimo Lakes Road.
Once there, he buried her in a shallow grave. She was not wearing pants or shoes when her body was discovered.
An autopsy later determined that DNA linked to Bacon indicated that the pair had a sexual encounter earlier that day, which Bacon claims was consensual.
Bacon would go on to use Chang's cellphone after her murder to pretend to be her.
He eventually fled the island and crossed the country, changing his appearance.
He was initially arrested for first-degree murder in September 2020, after he was arrested in Thunder Bay, Ont., for an unrelated charge.
At the time, he pleaded not guilty to Chang's death, but in August 2022 he changed his plea to guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder.
"I wanted to be here to show her that, you know, people are here for her, we haven’t forgotten about her," said Chang's friend, Keanna Hoorn.
Chang's father minced no words, saying that Bacon "slaughtered" his daughter.
"You're a monster, you're a pedophile," he said. "I pray you suffer every day."
According to police, Bacon and Chang were considered friends at the time of her disappearance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump promises a 25% tariff on products from Canada, Mexico
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that on his first day in office he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, and an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China, citing concerns over illegal immigration and the trade of illicit drugs.
'Devastating:' Ford warns of impact of new tariffs promised by Donald Trump
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is warning that Donald Trump’s promise to impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods arriving in the United States from Canada and Mexico could have a 'devastating' effect on the province’s economy.
Legault says Trump's 25 per cent tariff would pose 'huge risk' for Quebec, Canadian economies
Premier François Legault says President-elect Donald Trump's threat of a 25 per cent tariff on all imports would pose a 'huge risk' to the Quebec and Canadian economies.
Premiers seek 'urgent' meeting with Trudeau before Trump returns to White House
Canada's premiers are asking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers' meeting ahead of the return to office of president-elect Donald Trump.
Here's how much Alberta exports to the United States
With the United States being Alberta’s top trade partner, sweeping 25 per cent tariffs proposed by President-Elect Donald Trump could have a major effect on the province’s economy.
'It's just not fair': Retirees speak out on being excluded from federal rebate cheques
Carol Sheaves of Moncton, N.B., says it's not fair that retirees like her won't get the government's newly proposed rebate cheques. Sheaves was among the seniors who expressed their frustrations to CTVNews.ca about not being eligible for the $250 government benefit.
NDP support for part of Liberal relief package in question, as House stalemate persists
After telling Canadians that New Democrats would back Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's holiday affordability package and help pass it quickly, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh now wants it split up, as he's only ready to support part of it. Public Services Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said the Liberals are 'certainly open to working with the opposition parties,' to find a path forward.
Deer spotted wearing high-visibility safety jacket in Northern B.C.
Andrea Arnold is used to having to slow down to let deer cross the road in her Northern B.C. community. But this weekend she saw something that made her pull over and snap a photo.
Canadian Army corporal fined for stolen valour at Remembrance Day ceremony
A corporal in the Canadian Army has been fined $2,000 and given a severe reprimand for wearing service medals he didn't earn during a Remembrance Day ceremony in Alberta two years ago.