The B.C. Coroner's Service is not naming a prisoner who died while in custody at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre on Wednesday.
Deputy regional coroner Donita Kuzma confirmed the Coroner's Service is conducting an independent investigation into the death. The Solicitor General's office reported the case, which is being treated as non-suspicious at this time, is also being investigated internally by B.C. Corrections and the B.C. Court Services Branch.
"It's actually still pretty early in the investigation," Kuzma said. "Toxicology testing, which is always a part of investigations like this, takes weeks."
The Coroner's office is not releasing any information about the age, gender or identity of the deceased inmate at this time. Nor is any information being released about the circumstances leading up to the death.
Kuzma said the investigation is ongoing and an autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death.
Police could only confirm that indeed a prisoner did pass away, but were not aware of the particulars.
"We are not involved in the investigation. To our knowledge, the coroner has not asked for our assistance as investigators," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass, implying that a crime is not suspected in this incident.
No further information was available from B.C. Corrections or the B.C. Court Services Branch as of press time.
- With files from Frank Peebles, Citizen reporter
