A incident unfolded at the N.B. minimum security Dorchester Penitentiary when a convicted murderer in his 80s managed to “walk away” from the facility, only to be swiftly recaptured by the dedicated staff. This unsettling escape attempt was confirmed by Correctional Service Canada, which released a statement detailing the occurrence.
According to the statement from the federal corrections service, Robert Hilroy Legge, the elderly inmate, walked off the penitentiary premises at approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday. Fortunately, the situation was promptly brought under control as staff members immediately apprehended Legge.
The Correctional Service Canada (CSC) has committed to thoroughly investigating the circumstances that led to this escape incident. The aim of the investigation is to assess how such an event could occur and to identify any necessary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Notably, the case of Robert Hilroy Legge involves a serious criminal history. In September of 2003, he was responsible for the brutal murder of his former partner, Ann Maria Lucas, inside her Stephenville apartment. The gruesome crime involved the use of a metal pipe, resulting in the tragic loss of Lucas’s life.
Prior to this tragic incident, Legge had a history of assaulting Lucas. Due to this troubling pattern of violence, he was subjected to a no-contact order, which legally required him to stay away from the victim. However, he disregarded this order, leading to the violent outcome.
Legge was subsequently convicted for his heinous crime and received a life sentence in prison as a consequence of his guilty plea. His advanced age at the time of this escape underscores the unique challenges faced by correctional facilities in managing elderly inmates, especially those convicted of violent crimes.
The incident highlights the need for continuous vigilance and security improvements within the corrections system to ensure that both the safety of staff and the public and the proper management of inmates are maintained. The CSC’s commitment to investigating the incident demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing such security breaches and taking necessary steps to prevent their recurrence.