‘I don’t have to worry’: Abbotsford killer dies in prison, survivor of attack relieved

Editor’s Note: This story contains details some readers may find difficult, including descriptions of violent crime. 

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) — For the first time in nearly 25 years, Misty Cockerill is not afraid that the man who tried to kill her, and murdered her friend, will be released from prison.

Terry Driver, known as the “Abbotsford Killer” died Monday at Mountain Institution, the Correctional Service of Canada has confirmed.

“At the time of his death, Mr. Driver had been serving an indeterminate sentence for first-degree murder and attempted murder since Oct. 16, 1997,” says a statement, adding Driver appears to have died of natural causes. Driver’s death will be investigated by the coroner, as is every death in custody. 

Cockerill and her friend Tanya Smith were attacked by Driver in 1995. Both were 16.

“I was the survivor. My friend was murdered on Oct. 14,” Cockerill recalls.

“I was with her. He tried to kill me too, but I survived.”

BREAKING: #Abbotsford killer Terry Driver has died from natural causes while serving a life sentence at Mountain Institution for the killing of teenaged girl. Details on @NEWS1130.

— BEN WILSON (@BenWilsonThings) August 23, 2021

Cockerill says the news that Driver had died was delivered to her by a stranger Monday morning, and was later confirmed to her by officials.

“It was somebody that knew the family that just wanted to give me the peace that they felt I deserved,” she tells NEWS 1130. “I really appreciated that.”

Since hearing the news Cockerill says she’s been on an “emotional roller coaster” — she was told Driver died from cancer but had no idea he was ill.

“I’m not sad about it at all, but it’s still a lot of shock and trying to process what’s going on. This is kind of a newfound chapter of freedom,” she says.

“I don’t have to worry about upcoming parole hearings, I don’t have to worry about whether he’ll ever be released or not, and whether my family’s safe. Now I know that they are, and it’s a relief.”

Misty Cockerill, who survived the horrific 1995 attack by Terry Driver, says she was surprised to hear of Driver's death but "I'm not sad about it at all. This is a new chapter of freedom. I don't have to worry if he will ever be released or not or if my family is safe" @NEWS1130

— Tarnjit Kaur Parmar (@Tarnjitkparmar) August 23, 2021

Court documents describe some of the details of what Cockerill endured, and what her friend did not survive.

“A man armed with a baseball bat suddenly attacked them. The man pulled the girls into the bushes and ordered them to remove their clothes. Ms. Smith complied and was pushed to the ground. Ms. Cockerill grabbed the bat and tried to hit the assailant. However, she was overpowered and the assailant hit her in the head approximately six times, causing her to lose consciousness,” a decision from 2001 upholding Driver’s designation as a dangerous offender reads.

“Approximately four hours after the attack, Ms. Cockerill regained consciousness and walked into the MSA emergency hospital nearby.  She was in a semi-comatose state and was suffering from serious injuries, including a broken arm, a compound fracture of the skull, and bruising and swelling of the brain. Had her injuries been left untreated for much longer, Ms. Cockerill would have died.”

Smith’s body was found in the nearby Vedder River, but the court found she was so badly beaten she had no chance of surviving and that she had been sexually assaulted.

After the murder, Driver “taunted police” by phoning them and telling them he was the killer, and was hunting another victim. He also referred to details of the sexual assault on Smith that were not publicly known. Driver also admitted that he had removed and defaced Smith’s gravestone.

Although Driver was designated a dangerous offender, meaning he would not be automatically paroled after serving a life sentence, he was still able to apply in 2020. The possibility that Driver would be released is one of the ways Cockerill says she was revictimized and retraumatized throughout the criminal justice process.

“I suddenly had this fear that I had 25 years ago when I was in hiding thinking, ‘What if he gets out? Then I have to leave Abbotsford right away with my kids,'” she explains. “I felt like ‘I’m in danger again.'”

‘People that don’t experience don’t quite understand’ 

Advocating for victims of crime is something Cockerill says has brought her some healing, and speaking out about what it is like to be victimized, is something she says has connected her to people who appreciate her efforts to give victims a voice.

“Being a victim can be lonely because nobody really talks about it. Not everybody has experienced it — thank God — and so the people that don’t experience it don’t quite understand,” she says, adding a lot of her advocacy is focused on speaking to people who are training to become police officers or victim service workers.

Misty Cockerill and her friend Tanya Smith were attacked by Driver in 1995. Cockerill survived and is now a tireless advocate for victims’ rights.

“I talk about my experiences, the good and the bad. We’re constantly revictimizing people by putting the blame on them. So, that’s why I like to speak on behalf of victims, especially ones that don’t have voices or are unable to speak.”

One thing Cockerill says she has noticed is that blaming victims — especially women and girls — for the crimes perpetrated against them has become less common and less acceptable.

“Everything was blamed on Tanya and I. Everything was our fault. We were walking at night, we were wearing the wrong clothes, whatever the case may be. But you don’t hear that as much anymore. You hear a lot more people supporting victims of violence. Our view, as a society, towards victims is growing more compassionate. It really makes me happy that I got to be a small part of that.”

For now, Cockerill says she is going to spend time with her family, and continue to process the news that Driver is gone.

“It’s life-changing,” she says.

“Everybody who’s been affected by the Abbotsford killer. I really hope that everybody can have a little bit of peace today. I’m thinking about a lot of them right now.”