Inquest for 6 inmates at Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre hears 5 died overnight after overdosing
The inquest for six inmates at the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre has revealed troubling commonalities in the deaths of Jason Archer, Paul Debien, Nathaniel Golden, Igor Petrovic, Christopher Sharp, and Robert Soberal. All of the men died of drug toxicity between the years 2017 and 2021, either within the Ontario government jail or in hospital.
Andrea Monteiro, a corrections consultant, addressed the jury on the second day of the Ontario coroner’s hearings into the deaths of these men. Monteiro highlighted the fact that the men, who were between the ages of 28 and 53, had extensive criminal histories, with five of them having notes on their files indicating drug use. Additionally, five of the men were in the provincial jail for drug-related charges, with five of them on remand, awaiting trial or sentencing.
The inquest, which is mandatory under the Ontario Coroner’s Act for individuals who die in custody, is expected to last approximately three weeks. The jury will be tasked with answering five key questions: who died, when, where, how, and by what means (natural causes, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined). While the jury may make non-binding recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths, they are not permitted to assign legal responsibility or blame.
Monteiro’s testimony revealed several common themes she identified through her review of over 8,000 pages of institutional documents. One such theme was the inconsistency in documentation, with variability in how corrections staff used certain logs and illegible handwritten information. Monteiro also noted that corrections staff conducting checks on inmates often recorded rounds lasting under one or two minutes, with instances where officers were unable to clearly see residents in their cells at night.
The inquest is scheduled to hear from approximately 15 witnesses, including senior leaders at the jail, health-care workers, a physician with expertise in substance use disorder, a panel of Hamilton Public Health staff, and officials with the Ministry of the Solicitor General. Parties involved in the inquest include the families of Sharp and Soberal, as well as lawyers representing the John Howard Society of Ontario and the Prison Harm Reduction Coalition.
Vilko Zbogar, a lawyer for the Prison Harm Reduction Coalition, questioned Monteiro about naloxone administration, as her review showed that jail workers had given the drug to at least four of the men in distress prior to their deaths. Zbogar highlighted that it often took five to 10 minutes for staff to administer the drug to the inmates.
The inquest has provided insight into the lives of each of the six men, shedding light on their struggles with addiction and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. As the proceedings continue, the hope is that lessons can be learned and recommendations can be made to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
