On Friday, January 5, 2024, amidst a gentle snowfall in St. John's, a handful of individuals were observed downtown, as captured by Paul Daly for THE CANADIAN PRESS.
In a poignant development during the ongoing coroner's inquest into the tragic 2022 mass murders on James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN), RCMP major crime investigator Robin Zentner took the stand on Monday to provide critical insights into the events leading up to the fateful incident.
Zentner presented a series of text messages, obtained by the police, revealing a disturbing progression in the mindset of Damien Sanderson, the individual responsible for the mass murders. The messages showcased Sanderson's increasingly fatalistic outlook in the days leading up to the violent incident that shook the community.
Vanessa Burns, Sanderson's partner, disclosed to the police that she had shuttled Sanderson multiple times between Saskatoon and JSCN in August 2022 to facilitate cocaine transactions. On September 1, 2022, they returned to JSCN with their four children, only for a dispute to erupt the following day after engaging in cocaine-related activities.
During the altercation, Burns reported that Sanderson, her partner, became physically aggressive, hitting her in the head with a scale and attempting to strangle her while she was driving. Text messages retrieved from the phone of Damien's partner, Skye Sanderson, confirmed that Skye and some of the children witnessed the disturbing confrontation.
As tensions escalated, Skye called the RCMP to report Damien stealing her vehicle, revealing his outstanding warrant and potential impairment. The subsequent text exchanges between Skye and Damien displayed an emotional and fatalistic tone, with Damien expressing a willingness to face dire consequences.
Despite Damien's troubling history, which included numerous assault convictions, Zentner noted that the RCMP had not been alerted to Myles Sanderson's presence or activities in and around JSCN in the days leading up to the mass murders.
The sheer magnitude of the investigation was highlighted by Zentner, who revealed the involvement of 548 RCMP employees, alongside municipal police departments and other agencies. She described it as the largest homicide investigation ever undertaken by the RCMP in Saskatchewan.
James Smith Chief Wally Burns spoke about the community's efforts to find healing through ceremonies, emphasizing the profound impact of the tragedy. He expressed hope that the ongoing inquest would provide closure for the community, acknowledging the enduring pain.
The inquest is set to continue for the next two weeks in Melfort, while a second inquest, focused on the circumstances of Sanderson's death after being taken into police custody, is scheduled from February 26 to March 1 in Saskatoon.
