Chantel’s Law: Closing the Gaps in Justice for Victims and Their Families

Introduction

Chantel’s Law is a proposed reform aimed at addressing a crucial gap in the justice system for cases involving murder and the desecration of victims’ bodies. This law was inspired by the tragic case of Chantel Taylor, whose killer not only took her life but also dismembered and concealed her remains, causing unimaginable pain and prolonged suffering for her family. Current sentencing guidelines and existing laws, such as Helen’s Law, while important, fail to comprehensively address such compounded crimes.

By combining the offences of murder and body desecration into a unified and severe sentence, Chantel’s Law seeks to ensure that these heinous crimes are met with justice that truly reflects their gravity. It also aims to close loopholes that allow offenders to manipulate the system, bringing much-needed certainty and assurance to victims’ families.

What is Chantel’s Law?

Chantel’s Law seeks to address a critical gap in sentencing for cases where a killer not only commits murder but also desecrates and conceals the victim’s body. This proposed law establishes a mandatory life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years for offenders who murder and subsequently dismember or destroy the body of their victim, especially when efforts are made to conceal or prevent the recovery of the remains. By combining the offences of murder and body desecration into a unified sentence, Chantel’s Law ensures that such crimes are met with a punishment reflecting their severity.

The law also guarantees that offenders who disclose the location of remains but fail to lead to their recovery—whether due to deliberate deceit or destruction of evidence—cannot manipulate the system to reduce their sentence or gain parole eligibility. Families of victims deserve justice, certainty, and assurance that such offenders will serve significant time for their heinous actions.

Why is Chantel’s Law Needed in Relation to Helen’s Law?

Helen’s Law is an important piece of legislation that prevents killers who refuse to disclose the location of their victims’ remains from being granted parole. However, it has a significant limitation: if a killer claims to have disclosed the location of the remains, even if the remains are never found, Helen’s Law does not apply. This loophole has allowed offenders, such as Stephen Wynne—who falsely claimed to reveal the locations of concealed body parts—to avoid the full accountability they deserve during parole hearings.

Chantel’s Law is designed to close this gap. It ensures that offenders who desecrate and conceal a victim’s remains are denied parole, regardless of any alleged disclosure. Instead, they would face a mandatory life sentence with a minimum tariff of 40 years. By addressing cases involving the desecration and concealment of remains, Chantel’s Law provides justice for victims and their families, while complementing Helen’s Law to ensure that the most severe crimes receive appropriately severe punishment.