An investigation into the death of inmate Robert Pickton has recommended three changes for Correctional Services Canada (CSC) to prevent future incidents of inmates assaulting one another, including locking away cleaning supplies and keeping up-to-date records on inmates.
Pickton, who was 74-years-old at the time he died, had been serving a life sentence after being convicted of six counts of second-degree murder. He had been charged in the death of 26 women.
The remains or DNA of 33 women, many who were taken from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, were found on Pickton’s pig farm in Port Coquitlam. He once bragged to an undercover police officer he killed 49 in total. His confirmed victims were Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin, and Marnie Frey.
The assault on Pickton happened at Port-Cartier Institution. Pickton had been an inmate there since 2018. The prison is located more than 600 kilometres northeast of Quebec City.
Pickton was assaulted by inmate Martin Charest on May 19, 2024, around 5:17 p.m. A few minutes later, Charest broke off a wooden broom handle and stabbed it into Pickton’s face, the investigation report says.
Pickton was taken to hospital but died on May 31, 2024, CSC said.
No criminal charges have been laid in the case, according to the investigation report.
By law, CSC is required to investigate when an inmate dies or is seriously injured.
The findings of the investigation, released on July 4, made three recommendations, including locking away cleaning supplies, like mops and brooms, to prevent inmates gaining access to them.
Port-Cartier said it was working on a solution to prevent inmates gaining access to the supplies.
“A project is underway to secure the doors of the cleaners’ storerooms in unit common rooms to better control access to cleaning supplies,” the investigation report said. It also said that a reminder had been issued for staff on the night shift about materials in the common rooms.
The jail will also keep an inventory of items in the common room, a practice that had not previously been in place.
The investigation also noted that casework files on both inmates were not up to date, and has recommended the CSC help correctional officers keep up-to-date records on incidents involving inmates.
It was also recommended CSC review record-keeping practices on next of kin information, after Pickton’s next of kin changed information, leading to the wrong person being notified of his death. Officers became aware of the mistake a few days later, the investigation report says.
CSC said it was reviewing “how institutions collect and share information about and with inmates’ Next of Kin to determine their compliance with the requirements set out in the Privacy Act.”
Pickton had become eligible for parole in February 2024 but it is not clear whether he applied.
CSC said it realized the release of the findings could be upsetting for victim’s families.
“Our thoughts are with them at this time as well as the Indigenous Peoples and communities across the country who remain forever impacted by this offender’s crimes,” it said.
