Alberta butcher who dismembered woman’s body receives no jail time in retirement

Friends and family of Treasa Lynn Oberly described Joseph Donald Skelly as a heinous monster and Satan’s helper for dismembering and burning her body, but Skelly will not serve jail time for the crime. Instead, he was sentenced to a two-year conditional sentence order, including 12 months of house arrest and a curfew. The Crown had requested three-and-a-half years in prison, but Skelly’s actions resulted in the destruction of evidence preventing the determination of Oberly’s cause of death.

Joseph Skelly, a retired butcher, helped dispose of Oberly’s body at the request of his son, Kenneth Skelly, who is charged with second-degree murder in her death. Joseph dismembered and burned the body before transporting the remains to be buried in a shallow grave. He initially attempted to conceal the truth from investigators, but eventually admitted to his actions and led them to the burial site. Oberly’s remains were unidentifiable except through DNA testing, and Skelly’s actions prevented investigators from determining the cause of her death, suspected to be from a head wound.

During the sentencing, victim impact statements were read, with loved ones describing Oberly as a loving mother and friend. They expressed disbelief and outrage at Skelly’s actions, calling him a monster and condemning his treatment of their beloved family member. The Crown argued that Skelly’s actions merited prison time due to the severe impact on Oberly’s loved ones and the coverup of evidence. Despite expressing remorse and indicating an intention to plead guilty, Skelly was ultimately sentenced to serve his two-year conditional sentence order in the community.

Skelly’s defense lawyer argued for a community sentence, citing his remorse, guilty plea, and expression of intent to make amends. Skelly had become an alcoholic and recluse following his wife’s death, but had since sought help and was attending Alcoholics Anonymous, staying sober for seven months. Letters from friends and family described Skelly as a good neighbor, family man, and member of the community, emphasizing his fragile mental state at the time of the crime. Skelly himself apologized in a letter read in court, expressing his sorrow and commitment to making amends.

In the end, Justice John Little agreed that allowing Skelly to serve his sentence in the community would not endanger the public. While acknowledging the severity of the crime and the impact on Oberly’s loved ones, the decision was made to sentence Skelly to a two-year conditional sentence order with house arrest and a curfew. Despite the outrage and grief expressed by those close to Oberly, the sentence handed down to Skelly will keep him out of jail.