B.C. mother who murdered 8-year-old daughter dies in prison
Warning: This story contains disturbing details
A British Columbia mother who was convicted of killing her eight-year-old daughter by smothering her with a plastic bag has died in prison.
The Correctional Service of Canada says Lisa Batstone died in custody at the Fraser Valley Institution in Abbotsford, B.C., on Monday.
Batstone had been serving an indeterminate life sentence for the second-degree murder of Teagan Batstone since September 2019.
The B.C. Court of Appeal struck down Batstone's appeal for a reduced sentence in May 2022 after rejecting her earlier attempt to overturn her conviction in October 2021.
The correctional service says it is reviewing the circumstances of Batstone's death, adding that her next of kin has been notified.
Chris Szafron, assistant warden for management services at the Fraser Valley Institution, said the prison was unable to provide details about how Batstone died.
"We do a review of the circumstances, and because it was very recent we're not able to provide any initial information about cause of death or anything else," he said Wednesday.
Teagan's body was found in the back of a car in South Surrey on Dec. 10, 2014.
A B.C. Supreme Court judge found Batstone intended to smother her daughter before killing herself, but she ultimately could not follow through with the suicide.
The judge said Batstone did not want Teagan to be with her father after her suicide and therefore killing her daughter was a selfish act intended to hurt her ex-husband.
'NO CAUSE FOR MOURNING,' FATHER SAYS
Justice Catherine Murray said although Batstone was likely suffering from depression, anxiety and borderline personality disorder at the time, her mental issues did not significantly mitigate her moral culpability.
The judge also said Batstone left notes in her home blaming her ex-husband for the murder and she told several lies to psychiatrists because she hoped to be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.
Ex-husband Gabe Batstone told CTV News on Wednesday that the death of his daughter's killer means the family no longer has to endure the prospect of her potential release from incarceration.
"The death of Lisa Batstone, the convicted murderer of our beloved daughter Teagan, brings no cause for mourning from us," he said. "Her death does not erase the pain and loss of Teagan, whose absence is felt every day. Nothing can bring our precious daughter back, and this unalterable truth weighs heavily on our hearts."
The father said the news of Lisa's death felt like "a significant burden has been lifted," and added that "the safety of our family and community from a convicted child murderer is now assured, bringing a substantial relief amidst our enduring grief."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Lisa Steacy and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.