The coroner's inquest into the 2016 death of a woman in White Rock RCMP cells has been postponed.
Originally scheduled to begin this morning (June 16, 2025), the proceedings – announced in a news release late last month – were to examine what happened to Patricia Ann Wilson.
The 58-year-old was found unresponsive the morning of March 29, 2016, following "events involving civilian jail guards and members of the White Rock RCMP," a news release issued last month announcing the inquest dates states.
Such investigations are mandatory for any deaths that occur while a person was detained by or in the custody of a peace officer, it adds. They are not about finding fault, but aim to determine the facts surrounding such a death, and could result in recommendations aimed at preventing future deaths in similar circumstances.
In the days leading up to her death, Wilson was being held for an appearance in Surrey Provincial Court. She'd been arrested on March 25, and was set to appear in court on the 29th.
The 58-year-old had reportedly been assessed by paramedics less than four hours prior to being found unresponsive.
In a May 2024 report, IIO's chief civilian director Ron MacDonald concluded “that (Wilson’s) death was the cumulative result of poor training, lack of adherence to established policies, the misinterpretation of her symptoms, and the established protocols that invited mistakes by those charged with her care, in particular the police officers and civilian guards.”
“The situation was undoubtedly further complicated by the stigma associated with drug addiction and the underappreciation of the risks associated with detoxification,” he wrote.
The inquest was scheduled to continue through to June 25. Monday, officials with the BC Coroner's Service confirmed it had been postponed, and said a new date has not yet been set.
