A coroner's inquest into the death nine years ago of a woman in White Rock RCMP cells is set to take place next month in Burnaby.
In a news release issued Monday (May 26), the BC Coroners Service announced that proceedings to examine what happened to Patricia Ann Wilson are to take place June 16-25 at the Burnaby Coroners' Court in Metrotown.
Wilson, 58, was found unresponsive the morning of March 29, 2016, following events involving civilian jail guards and members of the White Rock RCMP, the release notes.
Police at the time said Wilson had been arrested March 25 on an outstanding warrant and was being held for a March 29 appearance in Surrey Provincial Court.
She had reportedly been assessed by paramedics less than four hours prior to being found unresponsive.
The Independent Investigations Office (IIO) began investigating shortly after Wilson's death. A final report was released in May 2024.
In late 2018, IIO's chief civilian director Ron MacDonald told PAN that a "complex" aspect of the case was holding up the investigation but that it was hoped to conclude by the end of that year.
鈥淚 can ensure you and your readers the reason for (the length of the investigation so far) is because we are being very thorough in examination of the circumstances behind Miss Wilson鈥檚 death,鈥� MacDonald said.
Six years later 鈥� in May of last year 鈥� MacDonald's report concluded that a 鈥渘egligent attitude" displayed by 鈥淲hite Rock detachment staff, officers and civilian guards alike鈥� towards Wilson's deteriorating condition likely contributed to her death, but not to the point of criminal negligence.
While that negligence did not meet the threshold for a criminal charge, 鈥渟erious mistakes can be said to have been made,鈥� MacDonald noted.
鈥淚t could quite reasonably be concluded in this case that (Wilson鈥檚) death was the cumulative result of poor training, lack of adherence to established policies, the misinterpretation of her symptoms, and the established protocols that invited mistakes by those charged with her care, in particular the police officers and civilian guards,鈥� MacDonald wrote.
鈥淭he situation was undoubtedly further complicated by the stigma associated with drug addiction and the underappreciation of the risks associated with detoxification.鈥�
According to the IIO report, Wilson had told officers who arrested her that she had last used drugs the day before and that she felt like she was 鈥渃oming down with the flu.鈥�
While MacDonald found officers' inaction over the following days did not show a wanton and reckless disregard for human life, "mistakes were made," he wrote.
"But the behaviour was based on misunderstanding (Wilson鈥檚) condition, being too quick to attribute it to drug withdrawal symptoms, and assuming those were not life-threatening.鈥�
MacDonald's report also noted that "significant positive changes" at the detachment were made following a February 2018 management review that identified deficiencies including in cell checks and documentation, compliance with guard-training requirements, and checking responsiveness of intoxicated prisoners.
In 2021, Wilson鈥檚 daughter told PAN that the family had learned their mom died from blood poisoning.
Under the Coroners Act, inquests are mandatory for any deaths that occur while a person was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer.
Kimberly Isbister is to preside over the Wilson inquest, the release states.
Such proceedings are fact-finding and do not make any finding of legal responsibility. They may, however, result in jury recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths in the future.
A third function of the proceedings, the release notes, is "to ensure public confidence that the circumstances surrounding the death of an individual will not be overlooked, concealed or ignored."
Following her death, Wilson 鈥� a mother and grandmother who attended high school on the Semiahmoo Peninsula 鈥� was described as someone with a welcoming personality, who 鈥渁lways had a big smile.鈥�
Former classmates remembered 鈥渁 kind and gentle soul (who) had a hard life.鈥�
