A joint inquest in the deaths of three people on Lake Wanapitei and an Ottawa area woman has been ordered by Ontario’s Chief Coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer.
Fifty-four-year-old Kathryn Missen died on September 3rd, 2014 in Casselman, as the result of a medical condition.
Matthew Robert Humeniuk, Michael Isaac Kritz and Stephanie Joelle Bertrand all died in Sudbury following a boating incident on Lake Wanapitei on June 30, 2013.
Dr. Huyer says while the circumstances of these two incidents are different, the common thread is Ontario’s 911 communications system.
The inquest will examine the events surrounding each of these deaths and provide an opportunity to enhance understanding of the 911 communications system and coordination of emergency responders. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing similar deaths.
The Sudbury inquest will be held October 15th and the Missen inquest will be held in Ottawa October 22nd.
Section 25(2) of the Coroners Act permits a joint inquest where two or more deaths appear to have occurred in the same event or from a common cause.
The inquest is expected to last 15 days with around 38 witnesses.
The inquest will be held at the following locations:
Sudbury: 9:00am, Oct. 15-19, 2018, at the Lexington Hotel, 50 Brady Street
Ottawa: 9:00am, Oct. 22-Nov. 2, 2018, at the Ramada Hotel, 2259 Prince of Wales Drive
Dr. David Cameron will preside as inquest coroner and Prabhu Rajan and Troy Harrison will be counsel to the coroner.
