Robert Pickton, a convicted serial killer from British Columbia, has been hospitalized following an assault at Port-Cartier Institution, a maximum-security federal prison in Quebec. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, May 19, did not involve any staff members, according to Correctional Services Canada (CSC).
CSC has stated that due to privacy and security reasons, further details on the assault or Pickton’s medical condition cannot be disclosed at this time. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack is currently active.
Pickton, who was convicted in 2007 of the second-degree murder of six women, has been a controversial figure, especially given the charges of killing 26 women in total. Investigators had discovered human remains and DNA samples from multiple victims at his pig farm, which became central to the case revolving around the disappearances of over 60 women from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
His potential eligibility for day parole in February 2024, following a Supreme Court ruling on parole ineligibility periods, sparked significant public and political outcry, highlighting the ongoing debate over sentencing policies for serious crimes in Canada.
The Quebec Provincial Police are leading the investigation into the prison assault. Further updates are expected as authorities delve deeper into the incident.