On February 17, 2023, Thomas Heit, an inmate from the Regional Psychiatric Centre, died while in custody.
At the time of death, Thomas Heit had been serving an indeterminate sentence, which began on June 26, 1987, for sexual assault and utter threat to cause death or harm.
In a 1988 Alberta Court of Appeal judgment, the indeterminate sentence was upheld
The judgement read: “The potential of the appellant to inflict serious bodily harm on others was clearly established and the possibility of successful treatment to curb that potential is remote,”
As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service Canada will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified.