Braeden Nugent

Case record: Braeden Nugent

Background

Braeden Benjamin Nugent was a Thunder Bay resident who died late Sunday at a southern Ontario prison. He was 29. Nugent was serving a double life sentence at Collins Bay Institution.

Nugent had been described by a police investigator as “a serial killer in the making.”

Collins Bay Institution was a medium security prison in the west end of Kingston. It housed about 220 inmates, one-quarter of whom were serving either a life or long-term sentence.

The offence

The violence offences stemmed from incidents in which two men were beaten to death in the spring of 1995.

Murder of Jean Joseph Boutin

On March 31, 1995, Jean Joseph Boutin met Nugent, then 19, and a Pickle Lake youth at a bar. Near Hillcrest Park, the young men began beating Boutin, who was 44. They stole Boutin’s jewelry and wallet. When they came back, they found Boutin sitting up and wiping blood from his face with a tissue.

“Nugent went up to him and kicked him in the face and then repeatedly kicked him in the head until he was once again unconscious,” the prosecutor told the judge.

They later returned, bound Boutin and kicked him again. Boutin was found the next day by a woman walking her dog.

The cause of death was asphyxia due to blood in the airway.

The case record also states that on April 1, 1995, the severely beaten and bound body of 44-year-old Jean Joseph Boutin was found in a lane below Hillcrest Park.

Murder of Victor Wilson

On May 16, 1995, Victor Wilson, age 41, was choked and beaten in an Ambrose Street driveway after encountering Nugent.

“Wilson had been badly beaten in the head to the point of being unrecognizable,” court was told.

The case record also states that on May 17, 1995, Victor Wilson’s bloodied body was found on an Ambrose Street driveway. Wilson was developmentally disabled and communicated by humming and grunting.

Nugent was 20 at the time and pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.

Investigation

Following Nugent’s death, a coroner was conducting a post-mortem exam and doing follow-up tests. An official cause of death had not yet been determined at the time described.

An official of penitentiary operations stated:

“At this point in time we don’t suspect any foul play,” Collins Bay Institution assistant warden Cindy Herrington said.

The provincial police joint forces penitentiary squad began an investigation, and routine at the 75-year-old facility was modified to accommodate the officers.

Test results later indicated that Nugent had a high level of prescription medication in his system when he died.

At the time described when the investigation was closed, no criminal charges were pending.

An official of the police stated:

“With all signs pointing to a drug overdose, no criminal charges are pending and the investigation is closed,” Smith Falls OPP Sgt. Kristine Cholette said Tuesday.

A regional coroner’s office official stated that an inquest had not yet been scheduled. The record states that a coroner’s inquest was mandatory for a death in custody.

Arrest and plea

Nugent was arrested in December 1995.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.

The record also states that Nugent received life sentences in January 1997 for beating two men to death.

Trial

The record states that Nugent and a Pickle Lake youth were convicted of second-degree murder and manslaughter, respectively. It also states that Nugent pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder.

Sentencing

Nugent received life sentences in January 1997 for beating two men to death. He was ordered to serve 18 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In addition to second-degree murder, Nugent was also convicted of aggravated assault, robbery and willfully setting fires in unrelated incidents.

The record also states that Nugent was serving a double life sentence for second-degree murder, aggravated assault, arson and robbery.

Appeals

No appeal information was provided.

Aftermath

Nugent died at Collins Bay Institution on the evening of March 27 after going into “medical distress” in his cell. Attempts by staff and paramedics to assist him were unsuccessful.

“There was something along the lines of difficulty breathing, that type of thing,” Collins Bay Institution assistant warden Cindy Herrington said Tuesday.

The Correctional Service of Canada stated that attempts by staff and paramedics were unsuccessful, and the record also states that no foul play was suspected at the time.

A later description states: “Serial killer in the making” died of overdose October 26, 2005.

The record states that with all signs pointing to a drug overdose, no criminal charges were pending and the investigation was closed.

Other details

Nugent’s arson charge related to separate incidents in which several Shuniah cottages were set on fire.

A Pickle Lake youth was involved in the incident with Jean Joseph Boutin.

At the time of the Victor Wilson killing, Victor Wilson was developmentally disabled and communicated by humming and grunting.