In a jaw-dropping turn that has reignited outrage across New Brunswick, Devlin O’Blenis – the 35-year-old Moncton man already branded with an ‘illustrious criminal CV’ for his history of gun violence and brushes with the law – is reportedly on the verge of receiving a staggering three-year sentence reduction before he’s even convicted of the gruesome first-degree murder of Melissa Price.

The revelation has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community still traumatised by the February 15, 2026 discovery of 39-year-old Melissa’s body crammed inside a garbage bin on High Street near Wheeler Boulevard – a once-peaceful spot where families walked dogs and children played. Now, whispers of a potential leniency deal or legal manoeuvre threaten to rob grieving loved ones of any sense of justice, with critics blasting Canada’s justice system as ‘soft on killers’ yet again.

Sources close to the case suggest O’Blenis could benefit from a retroactive adjustment linked to recent sentencing guideline changes or credit for time served in prior stints – potentially shaving a full three years off whatever prison term he might face if convicted. For first-degree murder in Canada, that means an automatic life sentence with no parole eligibility for 25 years – but subtract three years from the effective ‘clock’ and the nightmare for Melissa’s family grows even darker.

‘How can this be happening?’ one devastated friend of Melissa told Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. ‘She was stuffed in a bin like rubbish, discarded without a shred of dignity, and now the man accused of doing it might walk out sooner because of some paperwork technicality? It’s sickening. Melissa deserved better than this.’

The accused’s rap sheet – already laid bare in explosive fashion by Toronto Sun columnist Brad Hunter under the headline ‘Accused Moncton trash bin killer has illustrious criminal CV’ – reads like a horror story of repeated failures by the system to keep a dangerous man off the streets.

Back in 2020, O’Blenis was slapped with an attempted murder charge after a 2019 shooting in Moncton left a 28-year-old victim fighting for his life. That serious allegation was later downgraded to aggravated assault amid plea negotiations, and he ultimately pleaded guilty to firearms offences: discharging a restricted or prohibited firearm with intent, plus possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order. The sentence? Four years, six months and 19 days – time he served partly in a Quebec prison.

But freedom came too soon for many. Released on statutory release – a supervised form of conditional liberty designed to help offenders reintegrate – O’Blenis promptly breached those conditions. On March 7, 2024, a warrant was issued after he failed to report to a community correctional centre in Saint John, New Brunswick. Somehow, he evaded immediate recapture and faded back into the community… until police allege he committed the ultimate act of violence.

Melissa Price, a kind-hearted 39-year-old described by friends as vibrant, caring and deeply connected to her Moncton roots, met her horrific end in circumstances that still haunt investigators and residents alike. Her body was found in an outdoor trash bin along a popular walking trail – hidden in plain sight, left to be discovered by an innocent passerby. The first-degree murder charge implies planning and intent, painting a picture of premeditated cruelty rather than a momentary loss of control.

RCMP’s Major Crime Unit has stayed tight-lipped on motive, the exact relationship (if any) between suspect and victim, and forensic details. No weapon has been publicly linked, no cause of death officially confirmed beyond the homicide classification. Yet the sheer brutality of disposing of a human being in a garbage bin has left Moncton – a city of roughly 80,000 known for its parks, Acadian culture and family-friendly atmosphere – gripped by fear and anger.

Neighbours recall the chilling day police tape cordoned off High Street. What began as curiosity over a misplaced bin turned to horror as hazmat-suited officers confirmed human remains. Joggers who once used the trail for peaceful afternoon exercise now avoid it entirely. ‘You think you’re safe walking your dog, and then this happens,’ one local mother told us, tears in her eyes. ‘And now they’re talking about reducing his time? It’s like the system is punishing the victims all over again.’

The potential three-year reduction has fuelled furious online debates, with social media erupting in calls for bail and parole reform. One Facebook commenter raged: ‘He was already charged with attempted murder, did time for guns, breached release – and still free to allegedly kill? Now a three-year discount? Throw away the key!’ Another added: ‘Because of Gaud [likely referring to recent Supreme Court rulings on sentencing credits or charter breaches], killers get breaks while families suffer forever.’

Legal experts note that while first-degree murder carries a mandatory life term with 25 years before parole eligibility, various credits – including for pre-trial custody, harsh prison conditions, or Charter violations during arrest or investigation – can effectively reduce the ‘hard time’ an offender serves before parole hearings. In some cases, courts have granted multi-year adjustments retroactively. If O’Blenis’s defence team successfully argues for such relief – perhaps tied to time already credited from past sentences or systemic delays – it could mean he becomes eligible for parole consideration years earlier than the public expects.

‘It’s not a commutation or pardon,’ one criminal lawyer explained on condition of anonymity. ‘But three years off the front end of a life sentence is enormous. For the victim’s family, it feels like justice delayed, denied, and diminished.’

Melissa’s loved ones have launched quiet tributes online: candlelight vigils planned, GoFundMe pages for memorial expenses, and heartfelt posts remembering her laugh, her generosity, and her love for simple things like coffee with friends. ‘She didn’t deserve to end up in a bin,’ one read. ‘She deserved life, love, and laughter. Not this.’

As O’Blenis remains remanded in custody ahead of his April 2 court appearance (with the case likely heading to preliminary inquiry and then trial), the community braces for more revelations. Was there a personal connection? A dispute gone fatally wrong? Drugs? Debt? Police have hinted at no ongoing public danger, but the fear lingers.

This case has become a lightning rod for broader Canadian debates: Why do repeat violent offenders cycle through the system? Why are gun charges often plea-bargained down? And why, when the worst happens, do technicalities seem to favour the accused over grieving families?

For now, Devlin O’Blenis sits behind bars, his alleged crimes laid bare. But if the reported three-year reduction comes to pass, many in Moncton fear it will be another bitter chapter in a story already soaked in tragedy.

Melissa Price’s life was stolen in the most degrading way imaginable. Her alleged killer’s past screams for accountability. Yet the system, once again, appears poised to hand out mercy where many believe none is deserved.

The people of Moncton – and Melissa’s heartbroken family – deserve answers, closure, and real justice. Anything less feels like an insult to her memory.