Coroner's inquest to examine death of Colton Clarkin next week

Nicola MacLeod · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 27, 2025 2:15 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

A coroner's inquest into the decease of Colton Clarkin volition beryllium held successful Charlottetown adjacent week.

Clarkin was 27 years aged erstwhile helium died by termination successful the summertime of 2023. He was being held successful custody astatine the Hillsborough Hospital successful Charlottetown, but helium was classified arsenic "absent without leave" from the psychiatric infirmary astatine the clip of his death.

Except erstwhile a decease is intelligibly owed to earthy causes, the Prince Edward Island coroner's bureau calls a nationalist inquest immoderate clip a idiosyncratic dies portion they are an inmate successful a provincial jail, correctional installation oregon different instauration due to the fact that they are successful the attraction of the province.  

The intent of the inquest is to found the facts surrounding that person's decease and fto a assemblage marque recommendations to forestall thing akin from happening successful the future.

"This inquest marks an important measurement toward knowing the circumstances starring up to Colton's passing, and ensuring that nary different household has to spell done the aforesaid symptom arsenic the Clarkins," a lawyer for the household said successful an email to CBC News. 

"The household hopes that the inquest volition not lone bring them immoderate closure, but that it whitethorn besides lend to meaningful alteration to code gaps successful P.E.I.'s health-care and transgression justness systems, peculiarly for individuals battling addictions."

Under attraction of Health P.E.I.

Clarkin was admitted to Hillsborough Hospital successful September 2022 after helium was recovered not criminally liable connected 4 charges, including resisting arrest, possession of stolen spot and firearms-related offences.

A "not criminally responsible" verdict is rendered erstwhile a idiosyncratic has committed a transgression but was astatine the clip suffering from a superior intelligence unwellness to the grade that they were incapable of knowing the quality and consequences of their actions.

A study from Prince Edward Island's Criminal Code Review Board successful the months earlier Clarkin's decease successful 2023 painted a representation of his clip successful the facility. It was marked by a absorption to treatment, periods of unexcused lack from the hospital, and continued cause usage during those times.

"There is statement that Mr. Clarkin has opiate usage disorder, stimulant usage disorder, antisocial property disorder, narcissistic property traits and schizotypal property traits. There is disagreement arsenic to whether Mr. Clarkin has a psychotic disorder," the study reads.

"Mr. Clarkin refuses to instrumentality antipsychotic medication, truthful it is chartless whether specified medicine would person a affirmative interaction connected his wellness and behaviour."

The committee yet concluded that Clarkin was to stay successful Hillsborough Hospital arsenic helium was inactive a "significant menace to the information of the public."

On July 29, Charlottetown Police asked the nationalist for assistance successful locating Clarkin, noting that helium had past been seen the time earlier connected Murchison Lane — the roadworthy starring to and from the psychiatric hospital.

His assemblage was aboriginal recovered connected the Confederation Trail northbound of the city, successful the South Winsloe area. A decease announcement posted by his household lists July 29 arsenic the day of his death.

"The Clarkin household has endured immense hardship successful the clip since Colton's death. No household should person to acquisition the symptom and nonaccomplishment they person suffered, nor the added load of reliving the acquisition successful specified a nationalist forum," the family's lawyer said.

"The Clarkin household remains hopeful that the process volition supply the nationalist with a clearer knowing of the Colton they knew and loved, shed immoderate much-needed airy connected Colton's experiences, and assistance reply immoderate outstanding questions astir the strategy successful which Colton recovered himself."

The Hillsborough Hospital is operated by Health P.E.I. Officials declined to remark up of the inquest. The wellness authorization volition besides beryllium represented by ineligible counsel during the proceedings. 

The inquest is scheduled to tally for 3 days, from April 2 to 4.