Kitchener man responsible for choking death of roommate back in jail

Kevin Koehler, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Mary Anne May, is seen in this image taken from a Youtube video.

A Kitchener man who strangled his roommate to death is back behind bars.

The Parole Board of Canada has revoked the statutory parole of Kevin Koehler.

He was convicted of manslaughter in 2015 for the 2013 strangulation death of his platonic roommate, Mary Anne May.

In a decision, dated Sept. 8, 2025, the parole board recommended Koehler’s release be revoked “based on deteriorating behaviours.”

It stated Koehler was spotted at an LCBO, despite conditions of his release banning him from any drug or alcohol use or entering any business that primarily derived its income from the sale of alcohol.

When staff at his halfway house questioned Koehler, the board said he became agitated, referred to May in “derogatory terms” and reenacted choking her by putting his hand on his own neck while describing the events that happened in 2013.

The board said, later that night, he also got into a fight with another resident after he approached the resident’s female friend.

A suspension warrant was issued, Koehler was arrested and he was taken to Toronto South Detention Centre.

During an interview after his arrest, the board said he “expressed vague suicidal ideations” and stated he was “feeling lonely” and “looking for female companionship.” He also admitted to buying red wine from the LCBO and approaching approximately 15 women to ask for their contact information.

“It is apparent that you still do not take rejection from females well,” the decision stated.

“It is apparent that you remain in your offence cycle even post programming. You breached several

special conditions including alcohol, and in approaching women for relationships. Your emotional

regulation is also clearly deteriorating. All of these are risk elevating on their own, but in

conjunction with each other, severely amplify your risk in the community,” the decision read.

The board said Koehler’s actions were not beyond his control, but he continued to wilfully make poor decisions that could put the public at risk.

Preparing for another release

Despite the concerns of the parole board, Koehler’s next statutory release date will come up before he has finished serving his combined sentence of 10 years, 7 months and 15 days for manslaughter and breach of recognizance. By law, all federal offenders who have served two-thirds of their sentence must be released from prison. Offenders finish what is left of their sentence in the community and must report to a Correctional Service of Canada parole officer. Offenders serving life sentences do not get statutory release.

“As statutory release is a legislated release, the authority of the board is limited to imposing special conditions,” the decision said.

When Koehler is released again, he will be required to live at a community-based residential facility or psychiatric facility approved by the Correctional Service of Canada. His conditions will once again include an alcohol and drug prohibition, curfew, mandatory psychological counselling, and the requirement to report all relationships with females, even if they are not romantic in nature.

Previous releases

This was not the first time Koehler had been rearrested and brought back to jail.

He was first granted a statutory release in 2022, but he breached his conditions a few months later by failing to report a relationship with a woman.

After spending another stint behind bars, he was released again in 2024 with several conditions, including a prohibition from drugs and alcohol, a curfew and a requirement to report all sexual and non-sexual relationships.

That release was rescinded on Jan. 7, 2025 for “threatening and deteriorating behaviour.”

Koehler was released again earlier this year.

May’s murder

On Sept. 18, 2013, Koehler and his girlfriend were drinking and playing loud music at his apartment on Margaret Avenue in Kitchener.

His roommate, Mary Anne May, was upset and locked herself in her room. She called and texted the landlord repeatedly, who suggested she call Waterloo Regional Police. There is no record that she did so.

Koehler later admitted that he killed May, wrapped her body in blankets, loaded her into a child’s bike trailer and tried to get rid of the body.

Investigators looking into May’s death spoke with several people who claimed Koehler boasted about killing May, often while using alcohol or drugs.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2015 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, minus time already served.

History of violence

Koehler was also responsible for three other deaths.

He was behind the wheel during a high-speed chase that ended in a fiery crash near Walkerton in 1985. The two teens who were passengers in the vehicle, Christine Lindsay and Helen Wattam, and OPP Const. Donald Campbell were killed.

For that, Koehler spent nearly three years behind bars for criminal negligence causing death.