News Releases

Prairies Region

News Release

Communiqué

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SASKATOON, SK, January 22, 2005 - At approximately 10:40 hours Thursday, January 22, 2004, an offender at the Regional Psychiatric Centre died after a lengthy terminal illness.

Dead is Douglas B. Letendre, 59-years-old, who was serving an indefinite sentence for armed robbery, kidnapping and numerous criminal convictions and sentences for breaches of trust while under supervision. Letendre had been at the Regional Psychiatric Centre since October 2002. Next of kin have been notified.

The death will be the subject of a coroner's inquest as is common with any death of a person in custody.

The Regional Psychiatric Centre is a multi-level accredited psychiatric hospital, which also has a mandate to provide palliative care to federal offenders within the criminal justice system. The Centre is operated by the Correctional Service of Canada and is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There are currently 189 patients receiving assessment and/or treatment at the Centre.

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For more information, media representatives may contact:

Helga Halfinger
Acting Associate Clinical Director
(306) 975-5608