The inquest into the death of Daniel Tokarchuk is scheduled to take all week at Plaza 88.

By Nigel Maxwell

Unanswered questions

Coroner’s inquest hears former Sask. Pen inmate suffered from depression before suicide

Oct 5, 2020 | 2:34 PM

A man found hanging in his room in the minimum security unit at Saskatchewan Penitentiary was well liked and very active, but had a hard time coping after a recent break-up with his spouse.

Those were among the details provided Monday, during day one of the coroner’s inquest into the death of Daniel Tokarchuk. The 44-year-old, who was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, was found unresponsive by corrections officers on the morning of June 7, 2017.

RCMP Const. Troy Antal was the first witness called to testify. He was the same officer who handled the initial investigation at Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

Antal explained Tokarchuk was observed sleeping in his room during the 1:30 a.m. check but when staff returned two hours later, the door was obstructed and Tokarchuk was found hanging from the steel hook on the back of the door. A nylon belt was wrapped tightly around his neck. Tokarchuk was immediately taken down and attempts to save his life with CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator were unsuccessful. Tokarchuk was then taken to the Victoria Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 4:37 a.m.

Antal inspected the room. He said there was no suicide note and nothing to indicate something suspicious had occurred. He added he did find it strange there was a chair lying on the bed, with two pillows tied to it. He found the medication Tokarchuk was using to treat his depression.

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After interviewing witnesses, Antal said he learned Tokarchuk was well-liked by his fellow inmates and stayed very active by running and lifting weights. Tokarchuk, who had been in the minimum security unit since 2015, met his spouse while in custody, but the two had a falling out and recently became separated which caused Tokarchuk “a lot of pain.”

Antal noted one particular comment from a housemate of Tokarchuk’s who said Tokarchuk told him: “We are never getting out of this institution unless we’re dead.”

Antal acknowledged that at the time of the investigation, there was also a separate homicide investigation going on at the prison, which took resources away from his investigation. Chris Van Camp was murdered by his cellmate Tyler Vandewater.

Following his description of the events, Antal was questioned by coroner’s council Keith Amyotte to describe cell five at unit 4C in further detail, questioning whether it was like an actual “cell.”

Antal explained the rooms at the minimum security unit are called “cells” but more closely resemble a dorm room with no actual bars.

Presiding Coroner Tim Hawryluk then asked Antal to explain how many hooks were in the room, and whether it was standard practice for an inmate to have access to tools which could be used for suicide.

Antal replied during his career he’s seen many suicides and said in some cases there was “no hook at all,” adding in other cases, a bed or chair was used.

The purpose of the inquest this week is not to lay blame but rather help prevent similar deaths from happening in he future. The coroner’s jury will have the task at the end of the week to come up with a list of recommendations.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell