Police investigating 2 deaths within 2 days at Edmonton Remand Centre

Police are investigating the death of two inmates at the Edmonton Remand Centre that happened within a span of two days last week. 

Emergency services responded to the first death on Dec. 18, after two inmates were engaged in an altercation. 

An autopsy found that Nathaniel Burchat, 26, died from a blunt-force head injury. The manner of death was ruled a homicide. 

A male suspect remains in custody, and charges are pending.

Watch | Police investigating deaths at remand centre:

Two deaths at the Edmonton Remand Centre under police investigation

6 days ago

Duration 0:57

Two inmates died at the Edmonton Remand Centre within two days. Both cases are under police investigation. There are now six recorded deaths this year. This comes after years of criticism of the medical and mental health care provided at the facility.

Burchat was held on charges of assault, mischief and failure to attend court dates, after being accused of assaulting a man and damaging his phone on Dec. 2. 

Burchat a former soldier, was suffering serious mental health issues, according to a fundraising website his family set up. 

Second death

Another inmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre died the next day. 

Sheena Campbell with the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services, confirmed to CBC News that "a medical emergency response was initiated at the Edmonton Remand Centre on the evening of Dec. 19."

The person was declared deceased by medical personnel and police officers. An autopsy is scheduled.

Since 2021, 20 inmates have died in the facility. 

There were six deaths this year — three of those deaths occurred in October alone.

Tom Engel, president of the Canadian Prison Law Association, said the deaths don't surprise him.

"It happens far too frequently — it shouldn't happen at all," he said. "The fact of the matter is that the Edmonton Remand Centre is a dangerous place to be."

The Edmonton Remand Centre, which is the largest jail in Canada, opened in 2013, to address overcrowding in the previous correctional facility. 

The centre has a capacity to hold 1,952 inmates, according to Campbell. She did not provide further information on how many inmates are being held currently.

"The safety of those in custody is Alberta Correctional Services' top priority," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services in a statement. 

"The safety of staff and individuals in custody is important and other measures such as drug interdiction strategies and placement within the correctional centres are undertaken."

Engel noted that many of the inmates in remand have not been found guilty of crimes, and are awaiting trial. 

Previously, an investigation from the Alberta's Public Interest Commissioner on the remand centre found significant lapses in medical care put inmates at risk. 

Engel said the government needs to ensure that there is adequate staffing, support and medical and mental health care at the facility.