Warning: Some readers may find details of this story disturbing
PRINCE ALBERT – Nathaniel Carrier killed his seven-year-old son and his parents, and tried to kill his five-year-old daughter because he made a suicide pact with a woman he met online and didn’t want to leave his children and parents behind, court heard Wednesday during his sentencing hearing.
Carrier, now 30, was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years on two charges of second-degree murder in the deaths of his parents, one charge of first–degree murder of his son, Bentlee, and attempted murder of his daughter Kendrah. In January, Carrier had pleaded guilty.
The Crown and defence entered an agreed statement of facts and joint submission to Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench Wednesday.
Court heard that a week prior to the murders on March 28, 2020, Carrier entered a suicide-pact with a young woman named Jesse from La Ronge, whom he met on Whisper, a social media app that facilitates anonymous social interaction where users post and share photo and video messages.
Jesse posted an anonymous message saying she wanted to kill herself. Carrier had seen her message and responded saying he might join her. The two became close and developed a romantic relationship even though they had not yet met. They planned to meet in La Ronge, spend a few nights at a hotel and then commit suicide together.
“The week before they met in person he decided to kill his two young children and parents,” said Crown Prosecutor Doug Howell. “He felt his children would be better off with him in the afterlife than staying in this world with their mom, for whom he'd been separated for five years, and the stepdad.”
Carrier had told Jesse that it was good for his family “not to suffer” with his loss. He said he had “a plan in place.”
The murders
Court heard that Carrier disabled all the wires to the video home security system at the family’s home on 315 McArthur drive in Prince Albert with all eight cameras stopping at 2:05 p.m. March 28, 2020.
Then, methodically, he killed his family using a knife. After he killed his family he texted and called the woman and said that he did “the needful thing,” adding, “I’m out of PA and coming to you.”
Carrier was driving his dad’s grey Jeep Cherokee and when he stopped for gas and bought cigarettes on his way to La Ronge, he used 7-Up and a rag to clean his dad’s blood off the front of the Jeep.
Carrier and Jesse met up and she abandoned her vehicle near La Ronge at approximately 5 p.m. In her vehicle, she left behind suicide notes. Carrier smashed his cell phone and threw it in the woods and asked Jesse to do the same. She said she didn’t want to and wanted to call someone.
The Crown told the court that Carrier brought an eight to 10-inch knife with him to the hotel and he told Jesse that if the cops come he could choke and kill her if she wanted. He also had a red-handled serrated knife, which he purchased March 24.
They went to a motel but their stay was shorter than they had planned, court heard. Jesse’s family became concerned about her wellbeing and police were called. Earlier that day, her family had received text messages from Jesse saying she was suicidal. Police found her vehicle and inside the vehicle they found the suicide letters and she mentioned Nathaniel Carrier.
The La Ronge RCMP located the couple at the motel and shortly after midnight on March 29, 2020, they banged on the door of room 24. Carrier had told Jesse that if police come to their motel he could kill her and she should just give him the signal. When Carrier opened the door for the police, he looked over at Jesse and she shook her head no. He didn’t kill her.
Jesse was taken to the hospital for psychiatric treatment. Carrier went to the hospital with her to assist. He was, however, also admitted to hospital and then transferred to Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert. Court heard that his trip was uneventful until he produced two large knives and turned them over to the ambulance attendants. They gave them to the police. Carrier was admitted to hospital as an involuntary psychiatric patient.
Court heard that Carrier was hearing voices of his deceased grandmother telling him to end the suffering of people. His grandmother had died three years prior. He heard voices and derogatory comments telling him to commit suicide. Carrier denied seeing things but admitted to paranoid thoughts. He thought the world was going to end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said his children weren’t with him now and they were with his parents.
While Carrier was at the Victoria Hospital, events began to unfold at his parent’s home, court heard.
Sandra Henry hadn’t shown up for work at the Co-op and her friend and co-worker became concerned. She went to the Carrier house at approximately 3 p.m. on March 29, 2020. The house was locked and they gained entry at about 4 p.m. She looked in the kids’ room and the children appeared to be asleep on the floor. She found Henry on her back on the floor and she appeared to be dead. She called her husband to come inside the home. They found Bentlee’s motionless body on the floor. They found Kendrah on her bed. She was still alive.
They found Dennis Carrier slumped over in a chair in the garage and a large amount of blood.
Moments later the police arrived. Police remained with Kendrah and comforted her until EMS arrived. Kendrah was taken to hospital and flown to Edmonton’s Stollery Children Hospital. At the hospital, nurses nicknamed her One Tough Cookie. Kendrah spent 53 days in hospital. She continues to recover physically but still needs psychiatric help for PTSD, court heard.
Carrier’s suicidal thoughts
Court heard that Carrier had suicidal thoughts since he was very young but they got worse when his grandmother died. He was close to her. A psychiatric assessment determined that Carrier heard “all sorts of voices from various unnamed people making derogatory comments.” Carrier never sought counselling.
Carrier drank, smoked marijuana a bit, and did some cocaine, but not excessively. Court heard that he has a major depressive disorder and was diagnosed as Schizoid.
On March 31, 2020, two Prince Albert Police officers went to the Victoria Hospital and arrested Carrier.
Victim impact statements
Bentlee and Kendrah’s mother, Heather Sumners, openly wept as she read her victim impact statement to the court. She spoke of Bentlee being born premature but how he fought to live. She described the unimaginable trauma Kendrah experienced when her father tried to kill her. She told the court of Kendrah’s fight for survival and surgeries during her lengthy hospital stay.
Sumners looked at Carrier at times and spoke directly to him.
“We talked on Friday, March 27, 2020, and everything was good. On March 28, 2020, we talked and nothing was out of the ordinary. All of our conversations over the weekend were about child support and there were no arguments. As far as I knew everything was fine.”
Carrier sat in the prisoner’s box, wearing a grey prison sweater that had black felt marker saying “3XL” on the back. He held his head down as Sumners spoke, occasionally looking up at her. As she described their children’s goodness, Carrier’s shoulders and back heaved as he silently sobbed and continuously wiped his eyes with tissue.
“They were two, loving, caring children,” she said.
“I didn’t even get to say ‘I love you’ one last time to Bentlee.”
Sumners said they laid Bentlee to rest on Aug. 28, 2020.
“We made sure you were not mentioned in the service at all. You will never know where Bentley is laid to rest.”
Sumners looked at Carrier when she spoke about Kendrah.
“She watched you kill her brother Nate. You had a knife and you cut Ben. I can’t imagine how scared she must have been.”
Sumners said Kendrah “could have given up but she fought for her life and she lived.”
She added that, “Kendrah is definitely mad at you. She is very mad at you for killing her brother and grandparents.
“We ask her if she wants to see you again and she straight up says ‘no’ without hesitation. We told her we will make sure you never see him again.”
Sumners said she missed 11 months of work but added that she stayed strong for her children.
“I will never forgive you for what you have done. I will hate you forever. If I had to explain you in one word I would call you a monster.”
Heather’s mother, Rhonda Ferchoff, read a victim impact statement about the loss of her grandson and the suffering her daughter and granddaughter continue to endure.
“When I heard what you had done I fell to my knees. As a family how are we supposed to come back from this?
“Both Bentlee and Kendrah adored you,” added Ferchoff.
“You were their dad. Your actions will haunt you the rest of your life,” she said then sobbed as her head fell forward as she sat at the front of the courtroom.
Heather’s new husband Troy, wearing a black T-shirt that read, “I’m not the stepdad I’m the dad that stepped in,” also gave a victim impact statement.
“I had to carry Heather to the house,” he said when they found out what happened. “The pain you caused was so much. It was a bad dream that came true.”
Troy looked at Carrier and told him that after Kendrah got out of the hospital she asked him, “Will you be my new daddy?”
“I stepped up to be the father that she needs. I will protect my daughter no matter what. The damage you have done is inhumane. You are a monster.”
Troy said Kendrah has a scar on her neck, which will be a lifelong reminder to her of what happened.
“Kendrah is our saviour and she is One Tough Cookie.
“Nothing will ever justify what you have done. They looked up to you and trusted you.”
The court ordered a no-contact order against Carrier. He is not to contact about a dozen people including his two brothers, Heather, her parents Corey and Rhonda Ferchoff, Kendrah, and Troy.
Carrier apologized to Sumners and their families.
“I understand that nothing I say can change what happened. I just want everyone to know I regret my decision and regret my actions.”
Kendrah recovering
Outside the courthouse Sumners told reporters, “Kendrah’s doing amazing. She’s got her voice almost fully back. She’s just a normal kid now.”
Kendrah’s grandfather Corey Ferchoff told reporters, “It’s been a long two years. Our family has to carry on with life and actually mourn the loss of our grandson and take care of Kendrah.”
ljoy@glaciermedia.ca
