74-Year-Old Inmate Thomas McDonald Dies in Federal Prison

UPDATE: Thomas Anthony McDonald, a notorious 74-year-old inmate who committed multiple homicides, has died in federal prison in Abbotsford, British Columbia. McDonald passed away on Friday, October 6, 2023, from what authorities describe as “apparent natural causes,” according to a news release from the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) issued Monday.

This urgent development raises questions about the long and troubled history of McDonald, who was serving an indeterminate sentence after being designated a dangerous offender on November 20, 2015. His crimes included a brutal killing in Dawson Creek in 1981, followed by another homicide in the United Kingdom.

The 1981 murder occurred after a confrontation in a local bar, where McDonald fatally shot Earl Dean Jones after being provoked. He fled to the U.S. the following day, evading justice for over three decades. Despite being questioned by police in 1983, he was not charged due to a lack of evidence.

In 2002, after being deported from the U.S., McDonald moved to England, where he killed Roger Wilton during a violent altercation. McDonald was convicted of manslaughter and later paroled, but he absconded back to Canada, where he was eventually apprehended.

In 2011, the RCMP executed a “Mr. Big” sting operation to confirm his involvement in the Dawson Creek murder. During this operation, McDonald confessed that he did not intend to kill Jones but wanted to “give him a good scare.” He was later charged with first-degree murder but was convicted of the lesser manslaughter charge.

The judge, citing McDonald’s violent behavior and his history of alcohol-fueled confrontations, deemed him a significant risk to reoffend. As a result, he spent the remainder of his life behind bars, with the CSC now reviewing the circumstances surrounding his death.

The news of McDonald’s passing comes as a grim reminder of a life marked by violence and evasion of justice. The CSC has notified his next of kin and has engaged law enforcement and the coroner’s office, as is standard protocol for inmate deaths.

As details emerge, the CSC’s review may provide insights into McDonald’s final days and the implications of his lengthy criminal history. The case remains a focal point for discussions around criminal justice and public safety in Canada.