Sask. mass killer dies from accidental overdose, jury finds
The jury at the inquest into Myles Sanderson’s in-custody death found the mass murderer did not intend to kill himself but accidentally died from a cocaine overdose.
The jury delivered its findings on what led to the 32-year-old’s death, on Thursday evening.
Sanderson’s uncle Eddie Head said learning what happened to his nephew has brought closure.
“It brought closure to the families as they wanted to understand how did Myles pass, how did Myles end his life, what were the last days of his life,” Head said.
Sanderson was arrested and later died in hospital on September 7, 2022— three days after he killed 11 people in the communities of James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon.
Throughout the nearly week-long inquest, the jury heard testimony from 13 witnesses including criminal psychologist Matt Logan, who conducted a post-mortem behavioural analysis on the Sanderson.
The inquest heard Sanderson ingested 10 times the lethal amount of cocaine just moments before he was handcuffed, but Logan believes Sanderson’s death was an accident.
He said in his opinion Sanderson didn’t want to waste “good cocaine” and he didn’t care if he lived or died.
The jury made four recommendations, one suggesting the Saskatoon Police Service develop a dedicated team tasked with arresting those with outstanding warrants. The other three were directed to the RCMP, recommending it enhances driving training to include pursuit tactics, review policy for pursuits, and add more training to enhance extraction techniques from arrest takedowns.
Rhonda Blackmore, commanding officer for the Saskatchewan RCMP, said the organization will review the recommendations.
“I think the recommendations were very relevant to the incident as it unfolded. We have to remember that this incident was an incredibly high-risk incident outside what would see, as what we refer to, that day-to-day policing,” Blackmore told media.
She said the RCMP is actively implementing some recommendations from the Melfort inquest that looked into the deaths of Sanderson’s victims.
James Smith Cree Nation chief Wally Burns said now that both inquests have wrapped up, the community can focus on healing.
“On behalf of my nation, a sense of healing is a sense of pride,” Burns said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fines related to neighbour's 443 noise complaints at centre of B.C. dispute
A B.C. condo owner who was fined tens of thousands of dollars over hundreds of noise complaints made by his downstairs neighbour was partially successful in having the penalties overturned.
EXCLUSIVE Canadian lawyers play key role in money laundering, says financial intelligence report
A report by Canada's financial watchdog obtained by the Investigative Journalism Foundation working in collaboration with CTV News looked at Canadian lawyers' potential role in money laundering schemes, including those by organized crime groups like biker gangs and drug cartels.
Legal action coming to recover COVID benefit overpayments
The Canada Revenue Agency says it is ramping up efforts to recover overpayments of pandemic-related benefits.
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration
A potential strike by WestJet airplane mechanics would upend travel plans for 250,000 customers over the Canada Day long weekend, the airline says — and cost it millions of dollars.
Ottawa police warn residents to avoid Facebook Marketplace when looking for a place to rent
Ottawa police are going as far as to tell people to stay away from Facebook Marketplace altogether when looking for a place to rent because of the prevalence of scams.
Where do new Canadians come from? India and Philippines take top spots
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.
Nunavut judge sentences Toronto woman to 3 years prison for Inuit identity fraud
A Nunavut judge has sentenced a Toronto woman to three years in prison in a case of Inuit identity fraud.
Canada's top court rejects appeal from Sask. man who murdered wife
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected an application from a Saskatoon man who murdered his wife.