Inmate’s death while in custody at Gravenhurst, Ont. prison under review

Minimum-security Beaver Creek Correctional Institution in Gravenhurst, Ont. (CTV News)

A review is underway into the death of an inmate at Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst. Correctional Services Canada (CSC) reports Richard Shearer died while in custody on Wednesday.

The 45-year-old man was serving an indeterminate sentence after being found guilty of second-degree murder in 2015. An indeterminate sentence is a prison term with no end date given to offenders the court deems as dangerous. Offenders handed an indeterminate sentence are eligible for parole after seven years in custody. According to CSC, Shearer was eligible for parole in 2022 but was denied.

CSC stated Shearer’s next of kin had been notified of his death. "As in all cases involving the death of an inmate, the Correctional Service of Canada will review the circumstances. CSC policy requires that the police and the coroner be notified."

There were no further details released surrounding the circumstances of Shearer’s death.

Beaver Creek Institution is a minimum and medium security federal prison run by CSC. It houses adult male inmates serving federal prison sentences.