Province calls for inquests into 2 Manitoba inmate deaths

The province’s Chief Medical Examiner called for inquests Friday into two Manitoba inmate deaths dating back to 2011 and 2006.

Thirty-year-old Sheldon Anthony McKay died on May 3, 2006 while serving a sentence at Stony Mountain Institution.

McKay was found face down on a bed in his room and pronounced dead. Investigators determined the cause of death to be asphyxia and his death was ruled a homicide.

Years later, Twenty-one-year-old Tyler Joseph St. Paul died May 16, 2011 while an inmate at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre.

St. Paul was jumped and called for help from his cell. He was responsive when Milner Ridge staff first arrived, but soon lost consciousness and died at the scene. His death was ruled a homicide.

The inquests into both deaths will look at whether officers on duty failed to help the victims, and what can be done in the future to prevent such deaths.