'LEAD' OF THE DAY: "There’s just no getting around the fact cops missed two separate murders in the same Mississauga house before a third victim was slain."
Toronto Sun Reporter Joe Warmington:
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "There were also “gaps in communication among police” and with the coroner in both Bill and Bridget’s deaths and that “homicide was not consulted before the case was closed and no inquiries were made by the homicide bureau.”
Toronto Sun Reporter Joe Warmington:
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "There were also “gaps in communication among police” and with the coroner in both Bill and Bridget’s deaths and that “homicide was not consulted before the case was closed and no inquiries were made by the homicide bureau.”
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STORY: "Warmington: Peel cops releasing internal review of 3 family members deaths," by Reporter Joe Warmington, published by The Toronto Sun on May 22, 2020.
GIST: "There’s just no getting around the fact cops missed two separate murders in the same Mississauga house before a third victim was slain.
The belief that two people were murdered and may not be dead today if an original death was properly investigated sparked investigations that rocked Peel Regional Police. Now comes the results of the Office of the Independent Review Director and an internal investigation — and it’s not going to go down as the service’s finest hour.
Poor note-taking, poor communication and even poorer co-ordination are the themes of an internal review of the handling of the separate murders of Bill and Bridget Harrison. Turns out if procedures had have been in place they would have determined the husband and wife did not die as a result of an accident.
It was not until a third family member, the couple’s son Caleb Harrison, was found dead with blunt force trauma that it became clear this house of horrors at 3635 Pitch Pine Cr. — near Winston Churchill Blvd. and Burnhamthorpe Rd. — was home to three separate homicides.
Bill Harrison, 65, Bridget Harrison, 63 and Caleb Harrison, 41, were all found dead between 2009 and 2013.
The family issued a statement last year saying they are “haunted by lingering questions about the investigative and forensic handling of the deaths.”
The first two deaths, police missed. The third was just too much of a coincidence.
“The officers involved in the death investigation of Bridget Harrison ultimately concluded that foul play was not a factor,” said a report by Insp. Joseph Paolini. “The administrative review has determined that this conclusion was made in error.”
Melissa Merritt, Caleb’s ex, and her new spouse Christopher Fattore were eventually charged in connection with the three murders. But only two of the cases led to convictions.
Nothing will ever fix what was lost here. But Peel cops are taking responsibility and making the necessary adjustments.
“At no time does a police officer wish to be involved in an investigation that fails to uncover the truth,” said the internal report’s conclusion. “The investigations surrounding the death of Bill, Bridget and Caleb Harrison are of great concern to members of the Peel Regional Police.”
The report has determined the first death was missed as a homicide due to a “lack of ownership” of the case by detectives.
“The constable who was initially in charge of the investigation into Bridget’s death was relieved by an acting detective as the primary investigator. Within three weeks of the death, neither of these officers were actively working on the investigation” and there was “confusion over who was responsible.”
There were also “gaps in communication among police” and with the coroner in both Bill and Bridget’s deaths and that “homicide was not consulted before the case was closed and no inquiries were made by the homicide bureau.”
“I recognize the significant trauma that these three deaths have had on the members of the Harrison Family,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “The OIPRD report revealed a number of similar themes to our internal review, based on which we have already made numerous changes and we will continue to make more as they are identified.”
The goal is to learn from the mistakes.
From now on a “detective-sergeant in Homicide” will “review all sudden death reports monthly to prevent any case from slipping between the cracks.
These reviews show Peel Regional Police missed two homicides in the same house that was followed by a third and there is no getting around that. But they also show the integrity of Peel Regional Police into transparency, accountability and honesty that they accepted their mistakes and have vowed to fix them."
The entire story can be read at:https://torontosun.com/news/local-news/warmington-peel-cops-releasing-internal-review-of-3-family-members-deaths
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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