British Columbia

Mysterious death of UBC sex assault suspect going to coroner's inquest

David Singh Tucker died in custody at the Surrey Pretrial Centre after being charged in the violent sexual assault of 3 women.

David Singh Tucker died in custody after being charged in the violent sexual assault of 3 women

David Singh Tucker was charged with three counts of sexual assault after he allegedly broke into a ground floor UBC apartment and terrorized three women. (Felicity Don/CBC)

More than two years after he died in custody, the B.C. Coroners Service has announced it will hold a public inquest into the death of accused sex offender David Singh Tucker.

Tucker was found dead the morning of July 25, 2016 at the Surrey Pretrial Centre where he was being held in the segregation unit. He was last seen alive at around 4 p.m. the previous afternoon.

Tucker died in custody at the Surrey Pretrial Centre. (Leoboudv/Wikimedia)

It is believed Tucker died of an illegal drug overdose, although B.C. Coroner spokesman Andy Watson said the official cause of death would be determined at the inquest.

Tucker was charged with three counts each of sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and robbery after he allegedly broke into a ground floor UBC apartment in April of 2016 and terrorized three women. 

The jury inquest will begin on Dec. 10, 2018 at the Burnaby Coroners' Court under presiding coroner Susan Barth.

The inquest does not have the jurisdiction to find fault but can make recommendations aimed a preventing similar deaths.