Cameron Rogers sentenced to life in prison for killing his parents

A two-year trial has come to a conclusion as Cameron Rogers pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the death of his parents.

Rogers sat in the prisoners box wearing a black suit and glasses, showing no emotion, as 24 victim impact statements were read.

“I'm very, extremely, disappointed,” said Graham Gleddie, Brother to Merill Gleddie. “What he did was absolutely heartless.”

Rogers was handed a life sentence with no chance of parole for 20 years, which has his family members worried for when his parole hearing comes.

“I fear for the day he is released,” added Gleddie. “A lot of our extended family does. There were victim impact statements from family on the west coast, family in the Southern U.S., they are all very scared for us because realistically, one day, he will be released.”

The statements read in court made it clear that both his parents, David Roger and Merrill Gleddie, were kind and affectionate parents who gave nothing but love and support to Cameron.

Graham Gleddie told reporters that, back on the day the couple were murdered, he had called the home because they hadn't shown up for a birthday dinner. Graham said he spoke with Cameron while he was in the middle of the act.

“He was very calmly telling me everything was fine, and no, they weren't going to come to the family dinner tonight.”

Family members were thankful there was an outcome after a lengthy trial. Last week, a mistrial was called due to the unexpected length of the case. Three of the 12 jurors could not continue to serve so the judge announced a mistrial.

“He agreed to this outcome, the defence agreed to this outcome because we felt it was a just outcome and the best outcome that was available to him on the evidence,” said Cameron's Lawyer Joseph Addelman.

In November 2016, Cameron reportedly contacted Montreal Police to discuss the murders of his parents, which prompted a call to the Ottawa Police Service. 

Officers went to the Rogers' home on Apledoorn Avenue, in Carleton Heights-Rideauview, and discovered the couple's bodies behind a shed. 

Dave Rogers was a longtime reporter at the Ottawa Citizen while Merrill Gleddie was a long-time civil servant.