Notorious British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton passed away from injuries sustained in an assault at a Quebec prison earlier this month.
The 74-year-old died on May 31 in the hospital after being attacked by another inmate at the Port-Cartier Institution on May 19, as confirmed by the Correctional Service Canada (CSC) in a press release.
Pickton was convicted in 2007 on six counts of second-degree murder and received a life sentence with a 25-year parole ineligibility period. He was charged with the murders of 26 women, with the remains or DNA of 33 women—many from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside—discovered on his pig farm in Port Coquitlam. Pickton had boasted to an undercover officer about killing 49 women, with confirmed victims including Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Georgina Papin, and Marnie Frey.
CSC stated that Pickton’s next of kin had been informed of his passing, and registered victims had also been contacted. The police and coroner were notified following CSC’s inmate death protocol.
“We are aware of the profound impact this offender’s crimes have had on communities in British Columbia and nationwide, including Indigenous peoples, victims, and their families,” said CSC in a statement. “Our thoughts are with them.”
CSC announced that an investigation will be conducted into the assault leading to Pickton’s death.
“The investigation will thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the assault, including adherence to policies and protocols,” CSC stated. “It will also make recommendations and implement corrective measures as necessary.”
Parole Concerns
In 2022, concerns arose about Pickton’s potential parole eligibility following the Supreme Court of Canada’s ruling against a law permitting consecutive sentences with stacked parole ineligibility periods, deeming it unconstitutional.
Pickton became eligible for day parole in February, but it’s unclear if he ever applied. Family members of victims criticized the justice system, advocating for Pickton to remain incarcerated.
On April 24, twelve municipal leaders penned a letter to Justice Minister Arif Virani expressing that granting Pickton parole would “compromise the integrity of Canada’s justice system.”