Coroner’s Office to Examine Circumstances Surrounding 2019 Death Following Transfer from Toronto South Detention Centre
The Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General has announced that an inquest will be held into the death of Richard Preston, a 79-year-old man who died in 2019 after being transferred from the Toronto South Detention Centre to hospital care in Mississauga.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner for the Central Region, Central West Office.
According to the notice, Mr. Preston died on July 26, 2019, at Trillium Health Partners Mississauga Hospital after being transferred from the correctional facility. Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the circumstances leading to his death.
Inquest to Review Circumstances of Death
The inquest will focus on examining the events and conditions surrounding Mr. Preston’s death while under provincial custody and medical care.
“Dr. Kenneth Peckham, Regional Supervising Coroner, Central Region, Central West Office, announced today that an inquest will be held into the death of Richard Preston.”
The coroner’s office said the proceedings are intended to gather evidence and provide a public review of the circumstances connected to the death. In Ontario, inquests are conducted before a jury and are designed to determine facts rather than assign criminal or civil liability.
The ministry stated that “The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Preston’s death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths.”
Recommendations issued by a coroner’s jury are non-binding but are often directed at government agencies, healthcare institutions, correctional services, or other organizations involved in public safety and care.
Further Details Yet to Be Released
Officials said additional information regarding the inquest schedule and location will be announced at a later date.
“Further details regarding the inquest, including the date and venue, will be provided at a later date.”
Ontario’s coroner system uses inquests as a mechanism to improve public accountability and identify opportunities to enhance policies, procedures, and safety measures. Inquests are mandatory in some custodial and institutional deaths under provincial legislation, while others may be called at the discretion of the coroner.
The announcement comes amid continued public attention on healthcare access and oversight within Ontario’s correctional system, particularly involving elderly and medically vulnerable individuals in custody.
Role of Coroners’ Inquests in Ontario
Coroners’ inquests in Ontario are public hearings led by a coroner and jury. Their primary purpose is to establish who died, and where, when, how, and by what means the death occurred. Juries may also issue recommendations intended to reduce the likelihood of similar deaths in the future.
The Ministry of the Solicitor General encouraged members of the public seeking more information about Ontario’s inquest process to consult provincial resources related to coroners’ investigations and inquests.
No additional statements from family members, legal representatives, or correctional authorities were included in the announcement.