TORONTO — The Durham Regional Police Service is warning residents that a high-risk offender serving a life sentence for first-degree murder has been released into the community under a temporary absence permit.Darren Scott Ray, 65, has been granted an unescorted temporary absence (UTA) and is residing in Oshawa under court-imposed conditions, police said. The release is part of the federal correctional system’s supervised reintegration process.Ray was convicted in 1986 of the first-degree murder of 14-year-old Darren Pepin, a Scarborough high school student. Court heard at the time that Pepin had run away from home and encountered Ray, who lived in a highrise apartment building in Toronto. Prosecutors said Ray sexually assaulted and killed the teenager in his apartment, then wrapped the boy’s body in a comforter and left it in a garbage room.A jury convicted Ray of first-degree murder after a trial in the Ontario Supreme Court. He was automatically sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years..In a news release issued this week, Durham police said Ray has a history of serious violent offences and continues to be considered a significant risk to the community. The public notification, police said, is intended to enhance community awareness and safety.Ray is described as an Indigenous man, 5-ft., 9-ins., 199 lbs., with an average build. He is bald and wears glasses.Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious or concerning behaviour to authorities. Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Regional Police.
