Hamilton woman still wants accountability after inquest into brother’s 2017 death in jail

The tragic death of 34-year-old Ryan McKechnie at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre in 2017 has left his sister, Amy McKechnie, frustrated with the lack of accountability in the process that followed. While she praised the team that conducted the inquest as “fabulous,” she expressed disappointment that no one was held responsible for her brother’s death.

Ryan passed away on June 29, 2017, due to combined fentanyl, methamphetamine, and amphetamine intoxication. The inquest jury’s findings in February confirmed the cause of his death, but as Amy pointed out, coroner’s inquests do not assign blame or make findings of guilt or innocence. This left her feeling that the jail could have taken steps to prevent Ryan’s tragic passing.

One of the key issues Amy highlighted was the decision to place Ryan in a cell with another inmate after contraband was found in their shared cell. She mentioned that a body scan of the other inmate showed anomalies indicating drug ingestion. The next morning, Ryan failed to wake up for breakfast, and his cellmate had to call for help.

During the inquest, jail staff testified, with one admitting they would have acted differently in hindsight. However, the majority of the staff members did not express any regret for their actions, which Amy found “disgusting.” The inquest process, mandated by Ontario’s Coroners Act, allows for the examination of witnesses and the recommendation of measures to prevent similar deaths in the future.

The jury in Ryan’s inquest issued 18 recommendations, mostly directed at the Ministry of the Solicitor General, which oversees corrections. These recommendations included updating staff training on interpreting body scans for contraband, funding trauma-informed support for families of deceased inmates, and clarifying procedures for checking on inmates’ signs of life.

Amy pushed for an in-person inquest for her brother, feeling it would be more humane than a virtual proceeding. She also emphasized the need for better support for families of inmates who pass away, both emotionally and financially. Additionally, she called for improved education and reintegration programs for inmates to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Moving forward, Amy is determined to seek accountability for her brother’s death and ensure that other families do not have to go through the same pain. She refuses to let Ryan’s death be in vain and is exploring all avenues to bring about change and justice for him and other inmates who have lost their lives in custody.