'Complete his mission': Criminal psychologist speculates on Sask. mass killer's motives
Myles Sanderson was most likely on his way to kill his ex-partner and “complete his mission” when officers forced him off the highway and arrested him, according to a criminal psychologist.
Dr. Matt Logan authored a post-mortem behavioural analysis report on Sanderson. He was the last witness to testify at the inquest into Sanderson’s in-custody death on Thursday.
Sanderson died on September 7, 2022, just three days after he killed 11 people in James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon.
Earlier the inquest heard Sanderson died of an acute cocaine overdose about an hour after he was arrested, but Logan believes his death was an accident.
“It was likely that the cocaine toxicity was not a suicide, but an accidental cocaine overdose,” Logan said.
The inquest heard Sanderson had 10 times the lethal amount of cocaine in his system when he died. When the arresting officers pulled him from the vehicle, he was reportedly clutching a bag of coke with a rolled up bill inside it.
Logan believes Sanderson was under the mindset of “why waste good cocaine” and “if I’m going out, I’m going out my way”.
The inquest heard Sanderson was travelling to Saskatoon on Highway 11 when police chased him.
Logan said while it’s possible Sanderson was on his way to seek refuge at his father’s house, it’s more likely that his goal was to kill his former common-law spouse Vanessa Burns.
During the high-speed police chase that lead to his arrest, Sanderson was reported to be travelling, at times, upwards of 160 kilometres an hour against oncoming traffic, aiming for other vehicles.
Logan believes Sanderson didn’t care if he lived or died.
“I think he always wanted to complete the mission, but at some point, the death ambivalence took over,” he said.
Whether Sanderson’s death was accidental or a suicide will be a main point for jurors to consider. The jury began deliberating early Thursday afternoon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.