A public inquest into the death of Ryan Donard will be held September 9 to 13, 2019 at the Joe Cook Memorial Centre, Black Lake, Saskatchewan.
The first day of the inquest is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with remaining start times to be determined by the presiding coroner.
On February 25, 2017, officers from the Stony Rapids RCMP Detachment responded to a complaint at a residence in Stony Rapids. When they arrived, a man fled the scene on foot and the police officers gave chase on foot.
The RCMP reported the man went into the Fond du Lac River and was believed to have drowned. Attempts made to recover the body were unsuccessful.
On June 26, 2017, a body was spotted in Fond du Lac Lake by a float plane and recovered from the water. The body was positively identified as that of Ryan Donard, age 31.
Section 19 of The Coroners Act, 1999 states that the chief coroner may direct that an inquest be held into the death of any person.
The Saskatchewan Coroners Service is responsible for the investigation of all sudden, unexpected deaths. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.
Coroner Brent Gough, Q.C., will preside at the inquest.
