EDMONTON - Former caregivers of a developmentally delayed woman expressed frustration outside court on Friday, following another delay in the case of a Strathcona County couple accused in her 2009 death.
Michael and Denise Scriven were in a Court of Queen’s Bench courtroom on Friday, facing charges of manslaughter, assault, unlawful confinement and failing to provide the necessities of life in the Nov. 20, 2009 death of Betty Anne Gagnon, 48, Denise Scriven’s sister. The case was adjourned until Feb. 15, when they’re expected to enter a plea or set a trial date.
Outside the court, a trio of Gagnon’s former caregivers expressed feelings of helplessness during their long wait for resolution in the case.
“It’s frustrating, obviously. It’s been over three years and it would be nice to have some resolution,” said Sue Thomas.
Along with Suzanne Jackett and Heather O’Bray, Thomas helped care for Gagnon when she lived in a Calgary home for nearly two decades before she moved north to live with her sister. Paid and monitored by the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary, the caregivers monitored Gagnon, helped her with finances and treated her like part of the family.
Jackett said she felt “out of control” with the justice system’s treatment of Gagnon, whom she describes her “perpetual teenager,” who would protest about having to do household chores or laundry.
“We’ve learned in those three and a half years just not to get our hopes up, not to have any expectations, and not to be surprised by anything that might happen,” Jackett said.
The courtroom was packed with dozens of other individuals from disabilities and elders advocates groups in Edmonton.
“Obviously they care a lot about what happened to Betty Anne and don’t want to see that happen again,” said Thomas.
The Scrivens said nothing as they left the court.
Ambulance workers found Gagnon dead in the front seat of a pickup truck parked at a Tempo Gas station on Wye Road east of Sherwood Park. Her sister stood next to the truck. Gagnon’s face was bruised and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court documents have painted a disturbing picture of the legally blind woman’s life with the Scrivens. The couple told police she spent her last days locked in an old school bus parked on their property, with no heat, water or plumbing. The documents haven’t been proven in court.
Gagnon was her own legal guardian, which means the government was not required to check the suitability of the residences in which she lived. It’s not known whether Gagnon was receiving support through the provincial Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program at the time of her death.
Edmonton Journal