Canadian True Crime – "Dylan Lestage"

Host: Kristi Lee
Release Date: March 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Canadian True Crime, hosted by Kristi Lee, explores the tragic and complex case of Dylan Lestage, a 15-year-old from Calgary, Alberta, who died after being set on fire in 1997. Driven by a request from Dylan's younger sister, Nicole, Kristi embarks on a meticulous, trauma-informed investigation that uncovers the stark contrasts between media portrayals and the actual events. The episode highlights the dangers of sensationalist reporting, the enduring grief of the Lestage family, and the role of youth justice in Canada.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Incident and Immediate Aftermath

• Timeline:

  • [03:13] July 17, 1997 – Dylan, 15, is set on fire in a deserted Calgary office building and dies of his injuries that evening.
  • The initial police and media reports claim a dispute over drugs/alcohol led to his death.
  • Within a day, a 15-year-old acquaintance (pseudonym Jason) is charged with second-degree murder but cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act.

• Eyewitness Account (Media):

  • Tanis, a friend, claims Dylan was attacked for refusing to share drugs/alcohol, sparking widespread outrage and moral panic.
  • This narrative is quickly disputed by police and others close to Dylan.

2. Media Portrayal versus Reality

• News outlets describe Dylan as a troubled youth involved in drugs and delinquency, painting Jason as the face of burgeoning youth violence.

• Dylan’s family, friends (notably Cindy), and school personnel refute the drug-related claims, describing him as fun-loving, outgoing, and generally a good kid.

• The distortion is amplified by negative and seemingly irrelevant details, such as those about Dylan’s behavior at a local pool hall.

  “The Calgary teen burned to death after getting doused by turpentine and lit a flame… loved to play billiards, smoke cigarettes and check video slot machines for loose change…”
  – Calgary Herald front page, as cited by Kristi Lee [~17:00]

• The timing of these reports is deeply traumatic for the family, occurring during what should have been dual birthday celebrations for Dylan and his mother.

3. Legal Proceedings and Prejudgment

• [22:15] The community rallies for harsh punishment ("An eye for an eye," demands for hanging) based on the drug-dispute narrative.

  "You take a man's life, you deserve to die."
  – Pastor Hodge, Vision Baptist Church [22:39]

• Jason remains in custody, with bail repeatedly denied, largely due to lack of suitable living arrangements, not because of his perceived dangerousness (as later clarified).

• The Crown pushes to move Jason’s case to adult court to seek a heavier penalty; repeated appeals fail, as the judge values his rehabilitation prospects.

• Public outrage is inflamed by misleading headlines, e.g.,

  “No case proves the growing brutality of youth more than the mid July murder of Dylan Lestage.”
  – [~29:00]

4. The True Story Emerges

• Through a plea deal, Jason pleads guilty to criminal negligence causing death—downgraded from second-degree murder.

• Agreed Facts:

  • There was no dispute or animosity.
  • The teens, bored, found turpentine and began recklessly playing with fire.
  • Dylan volunteered to have his shoe lit.
  • Jason then impulsively dumped more turpentine on Dylan, engulfing him.
  • Everyone panicked and fled; no premeditation or malicious intent found.

  “What happened to Dylan wasn’t the result of a malicious act. It wasn’t intentional murder, it was just a senseless tragedy.”
  – Kristi Lee [35:30]

• Only Jason is charged, though another teen started the fire. The other is not charged because the Crown needed his testimony.

5. Sentencing and Aftermath

• Jason is sentenced to three years probation (corrected later due to legal error) and released to live with his father in Ontario, with conditions (school/employment, curfew, counseling).

• He had already spent two years in custody awaiting trial – the equivalent of an adult sentence for the charge.

  "What they probably did not know is that the young offender ... had already spent two years in custody before he was ever sentenced."
  – Kristi Lee, quoting Alberta Views [~45:00]

• Jason, originally described by a psychiatric assessment as “almost a psychopath,” is later reassessed as not a danger.

• Dylan’s family finds some satisfaction, hoping that Jason will get the help he needs.

  “We hope this young person ... is going to get the help he needs ... so hopefully at the end of three years, he is not going to reoffend and be involved in hurting someone else.”
  – Dennis Bennett, family spokesperson [~40:10]

  “We don’t have our son anymore. He lost his whole life.”
  – Carol Bennett, Dylan’s mother [41:40]

6. Media Responsibility and Legal Reflection

• Alberta legal authorities and journalists later reflect on the damage caused by sensationalized reporting:

  “There was no animosity, no anger, no motive. They were playing with a highly volatile substance. But the community had people walking up and down with signs saying death to child killers.”
  – Retired Judge Herbert A. Allard [44:00]

  “It’s easier to sell blood and gore and moral outrage.”
  – Defense lawyer Andre Ouellette [44:30]

• The real reason for Jason’s bail refusal was lack of supportive family and available group home spaces, not evidence of dangerousness.

7. Nicole’s Perspective and the Quest for Truth

• Nicole, Dylan's younger sister, writes to Kristi asking for a factual account; she shares:

  • The media’s “eyewitness” Tanis was unknown to the family and her story was contradicted by verified accounts from restaurant staff.
  • Reporters invaded the family’s privacy, used Dylan’s photo without consent, and caused lasting trauma.

  “They made things up. And in the case of Tanis, the press not only printed the uncorroborated account of a teenage girl they happened to come across, but they used her comments as the lead for the news cycle.” – Kristi Lee, relaying Nicole’s account [56:30]

• Nicole emphasizes media manipulation shaped their grief and desire for justice, fueling the push for a murder trial.

  “We were grieving and broken hearted ... In such a vulnerable state, it was too easy to fall victim to salacious headlines...” – Kristi Lee, relaying Nicole’s account [63:30]

• Kristi closes by reflecting on trauma-informed reporting, the importance of truth, and offering her best wishes for Nicole and the Lestage family.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

"This young person found himself in a situation that got out of control and escalated with awful consequences."
– Youth Court Judge, sentencing remarks [40:30]

“You take a man’s life, you deserve to die.”
– Pastor Hodge, protest leader [22:40]

"There was no animosity, no anger, no motive. They were playing with a highly volatile substance. But the community had people walking up and down with signs saying death to child killers."
– Retired Judge Herbert A. Allard [44:00]

“We don’t have our son anymore. He lost his whole life.”
– Carol Bennett, Dylan’s mother [41:40]

“It’s easier to sell blood and gore and moral outrage.”
– Andre Ouellette, Jason’s lawyer [44:50]

"We hope this young person... is going to get the help he needs... so hopefully at the end of three years, he is not going to reoffend and be involved in hurting someone else."
– Dennis Bennett, family spokesperson [40:10]

“They made things up. ... The press not only printed the uncorroborated account of a teenage girl... but they used her comments as the lead for the news cycle.”
– Kristi Lee relaying Nicole’s insight [56:30]

“We were grieving and broken hearted... In such a vulnerable state, it was too easy to fall victim to salacious headlines and incorrect narratives pumped out by a press looking to sell more newspapers.”
– Kristi Lee relaying Nicole’s insight [63:30]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:13] – Introduction to the case: Dylan’s murder and immediate press reaction
• [14:00-22:00] – Media reporting, rumors about drugs, and impact on family
• [22:39] – Public protests, community outrage (“eye for an eye” sentiment)
• [29:00] – Progression of legal proceedings, bail hearings and debate
• [35:30] – Plea deal and agreed statement of facts revealed in court
• [40:00-41:40] – Sentencing, family’s statements, and reactions
• [43:39] – Retrospective: media’s distortion and legal community criticism
• [56:00] – Nicole’s insights and the true details of the tragic event
• [63:30] – Episode reflection on media responsibility, trauma, and truth

Conclusion

This episode provides a compelling case study in how media narratives, fuelled by sensationalism and community outrage, can distort the understanding of a tragedy—and why seeking the truth, rooted in fact and compassion, is essential for both justice and personal healing. The pain of Dylan’s family is heightened by the misrepresentation of his story, but Kristi Lee delivers the careful, nuanced account his loved ones deserve—one that challenges initial assumptions and exposes the long-term consequences of irresponsible crime reporting.

For further resources and to hear more stories, visit canadiantruecrime.ca.