Images of the 11 individuals who lost their lives are displayed at the entrance of the coroner's inquest, as captured by Rory MacLean for CTV News.
In the ongoing coroner's inquest into the 2022 mass murders committed by Myles Sanderson on James Smith Cree Nation, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) major crime investigator, Robin Zentner, took the stand on Monday. Zentner began her testimony by presenting a series of text messages obtained by the police, shedding light on the lead-up to Damien Sanderson's tragic demise at the hands of his brother.
According to Zentner, the messages revealed Damien Sanderson's increasingly fatalistic mindset in the days preceding his death. Vanessa Burns, Sanderson's partner, informed the police that in August 2022, she had driven Sanderson multiple times between Saskatoon and JSCN to sell cocaine. On September 1, 2022, they returned to JSCN with their four children.
The situation took a dark turn the following day when Burns and Sanderson got into an argument after engaging in drug transactions. Burns reported that the dispute turned physical, with Sanderson hitting her in the head with a scale and attempting to strangle her while she was driving. Messages obtained from Skye Sanderson, Damien's partner, confirmed that Skye and some of the children witnessed the altercation.
The tension escalated when Skye called the Melfort RCMP detachment on September 3, reporting that Damien had stolen her vehicle. Despite the ongoing police search, Damien continued to communicate with Skye, expressing a willingness to die. Zentner testified that the text exchanges suggested an emotional and fatalistic tone.
On September 4, just before the mass murders unfolded, Damien reached out to a friend, expressing feelings of being "lost." Subsequently, he messaged Skye and another friend, conveying love and hinting at their impending fate.
Despite Myles Sanderson's significant criminal record, including multiple assault convictions, Zentner clarified that the RCMP had not been contacted about his presence or activities in the days leading up to the murders.
Zentner detailed the extensive investigative effort, involving 548 RCMP employees and collaboration with municipal police departments and other agencies, making it the largest homicide investigation in Saskatchewan.
James Smith Chief Wally Burns shared that the community has turned to ceremonies for healing, expressing hope that the ongoing inquest will bring closure. He acknowledged the emotional toll of the situation but emphasized the importance of the inquest as a way to address and process the tragedy.
The inquest is scheduled to continue for the next two weeks in Melfort. Additionally, a second inquest regarding the circumstances of Sanderson's death while in police custody is set for February 26 to March 1 in Saskatoon.
