Photos of the victims of the stabbing massacre in the Kerry Vickar Centre with tobacco placed in front. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

JAMES SMITH INQUEST

RCMP member recalls disturbing scene during mass stabbings at James Smith Cree Nation

Jan 18, 2024 | 12:49 PM

**Editor’s Note: Some details in this article depict graphic scenes of violence.

An intense moment unfolded between retired staff sergeant Darren Simons and the daughter of Earl Burns at the inquest into the stabbing deaths in James Smith Cree Nation.

During testimony at the inquest on Thursday morning, Simons and Deborah Burns fought back tears as Simons told her that he saw Earl as a brother veteran of the armed forces.

He apologized that Earl was not given care earlier.

“I can’t imagine your loss but please just know that this is tough on me because of a fellow veteran,” Simons said to Burns.

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Earlier this week, RCMP provided a detailed account of the stabbings that happened on Sept. 4, 2022.

Earl Burns Sr. chased Myles Sanderson in a school bus after Myles forced his way into the house while holding a knife. Myles and Earl began to fight, and Earl was stabbed multiple times. He was later found dead inside the still-running bus.

“I would rather have dealt with that bus earlier,” said Simons. “I never imagined what I found when I opened the bus door.”

Simons added that responding to the deaths of four fellow officers in Mayerthorpe, Alta. in March of 2005 would be the worst thing he would see in his career, which changed as a result of the stabbing rampage. Simons at the time was in charge of the RCMP detachment in Melfort.

The inquest has heard many questions about how Mounties respond to outstanding warrants.

Myles Sanderson, who had a record of violent assaults, received statutory release earlier in 2022 but was unlawfully at large at the time of the killings.

Skye Sanderson called 911 the day before the stabbings, saying her husband had taken her vehicle without permission. He was wanted on outstanding warrants concerning domestic violence charges.

The officers told the inquest they found the vehicle outside a home on the First Nation. During testimony on Wednesday, one officer said he later learned that he had talked to Damien Sanderson in the home but was given a false name.

A photo police had of Damien Sanderson was from 2014, and he was unrecognizable.

Melfort RCMP said they did not know Myles Sanderson was in James Smith Cree Nation at the time but the community knew that he was committing assaults and selling cocaine, but police said they did not report it.

The inquest continues Thursday in Melfort with Vanessa Burns, the spouse of Myles Sanderson expected to testify.

–With files from The Canadian Press

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panews@pattisonmedia.com