Prince Albert man pleads guilty in murders of parents, 7-year-old son

PRINCE ALBERT -

A man accused in the deaths of his parents and his 7-year-old son​ has pleaded guilty to murder.

In March 2020, Nathaniel Carrier was taken into custody after police responding to a request for a wellbeing check discovered the deaths of his son Bentlee and his parents Denis Carrier and Sandra Henry, both 56 years old.

Carrier's five-year-old daughter Kendrah was found clinging to life and spent the next 51 days in hospital and required eight surgeries due to her injuries.

Carrier was 28 at the time.

On Wednesday, during his first in-person court appearance, Carrier pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the deaths of his parents and first-degree murder in Bentlee's death.

He originally faced first-degree murder charges in all three deaths.

Carrier was charged with attempted murder in the attack on his daughter — a charge Carrier also pleaded guilty to on Wednesday.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 13.

In an interview with CTV News Bentlee and Kendrah's mother Heather Sumners said two years was a long time to wait for an admission of guilt.

“Just hearing that he actually did it, that was not easy to hear at all,” Sumners said. 

The children were on a weekend visit with Carrier when the attacks happened.

While Carrier had initially elected for a judge and jury trial, his guilty pleas mean a lengthy trial will be avoided.

However, Sumners said she still wants to hear the agreed statement of facts read out in court to learn more about the incident and what events may have led up to the brutal attacks.

Sumners said she plans to attend Carrier's sentencing hearing in April.

“I hope he gets the punishment that he deserves,” Sumners said.

“It’s definitely going to make everything more real once he’s sentenced.”

Sumner said Kendrah, who’s is now seven years old and in Grade 2, is doing “phenomenal with her healing.”

“I do want to thank everyone that’s been involved including the police, the Crown prosecutor, the judge and the community,” Sumners said.