Parents are demanding the description of a recently-released child killer/rapist and they want to know his whereabouts.

Since the release of 46-year-old Chesterfield Johnson last weekend, concerned parents have been calling The Royal Gazette to get details about him.

And at least one school has sent out a general warning to parents to keep their children "safe from strangers''.

Mr. Johnson has served 20 years for the brutal murder of 11-year-old Connie Furtado in Paget in February, 1978. Originally sentenced to death, his sentence was commuted by the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.

While Mr. Johnson is not believed to have received extensive sex offender treatment, for the past year he has been involved in a religious-based community-work programme in St. George's -- known as the Wood Shop.

But this does not appear to have allayed the fear of some residents.

And their concern has once again raised the issue of whether the community should be notified when a sex offender, particularly a paedophile, is released.

The Women's Resource Centre has proposed that schools should at least be notified. But questions regarding the rights of former prisoners left the issue in limbo under the former Government.

And new Public Safety Minister, Paula Cox, said the issue is not likely to be solved in the next 100 days.

But one fearful and irate mother said: "I really feel that Bermuda has a very lackadaisical, casual attitude toward crimes against women and children,'' she said.

See Editorial Page 4: Related stories on Pages 8 and 9 Release of child rapist/killer haunts community "We need to take a different attitude. To me, they did not weigh out the situation (when they released Mr. Johnson).'' Deputy Prisons Commissioner Marvin Trott -- speaking on behalf of Commissioner Edward Dyer who is off the Island -- said: "That is now beyond the prison's control. We don't have anything to do with him now. But I understand that he will be getting some help.'' However, the concerned mother pointed out: "Nobody knows what he looks like.'' "People should demand to know where he is... This community is in jeopardy.

He should have been hanged.

Fully endorsing the WRC's proposal about sex offenders, she added: "If those people are a threat to children, children need to be made aware. Just as they need to be made aware of drugs. They should be aware of people like this.

"This man comes out and he can get any type of drugs and kill again. One death is too many. I want the fear of God to be put on these children. It's the Christmas holidays. Children are home by themselves. This upsets me.'' And according to a letter sent from St. George's Preparatory to parents, Police have asked principals in the St. George's area to issue a safety warning to parents.

"There is a reason to be concerned for the safety of unsupervised children,'' it stated.

"Mrs. Tuzo, our counsellor, reminded students today about keeping safe from strangers. This is a message that they have heard before; don't play in dark areas, don't talk to strangers, don't accept lifts from strangers, don't go anywhere with a stranger.'' However, principal Mary Lodge and the Police downplayed the connection between the letter and Mr. Johnson's release.

"I never mentioned anybody,'' Mrs. Lodge said when contacted last night.

"It was just a blanket warning we do from time to time as part of the Skills for Growing curriculum. There was a letter that went to parents just as a reminder for safety. I in no way made any allusion to that (Mr. Johnson's release) whatsoever.'' And Police spokesman Sgt. Gary Venning said: "The Police give out general crime prevention advice from time to time in the form of brochures and lectures through the school REACH (Resistance Education & Community Help Scheme).