Three charged in 2016 death of inmate found after prison riot

After an 18-month investigation, RCMP have charged three men in the death of Jason Leonard Bird, who was found unresponsive after a “major disturbance and lock down” at Prince Albert’s Saskatchewan Penitentiary.

The RCMP Major Crimes Unitnorth say Kelfert Wayne Watetch, 27, Brandon Wyatt Burns, 23, and Landon Bryce Mckay, 21, are charged with second-degree murder. The men were scheduled to appear in Prince Albert provincial court on Monday morning.

Staff found Bird, 43, unresponsive in the medium security unit around 7:15 p.m. after the disturbance on Dec. 14, 2016.

Each of the three men is also charged with attempted murder.

“My heart aches for the loss of my brother but it hurts even more for my mom,” Bird’s sister Holly Lynn said in a Facebook post shortly after his death. “No mother should ever have to bury her children.”

During the riot, which lasted nearly 24 hours, six other inmates were injured when corrections staff used firearms “to bring the situation under control,” Correctional Service Canada spokesman Jeff Campbell said.

While pursuing information about Bird’s death, investigators learned of another assault against a 31-year-old prisoner. RCMP noted an investigation into that incident is ongoing and further charges are expected.