Mother wants to know how her son died in psychiatric care center

Seven months after the death of her son in the Shepody Prisoner Recovery Center in Dorchester, Andrea Cormier still does not know the exact cause of his death.

Landon LeBlanc died on March 30, 2024 in this federal center which provides mental health treatment to prisoners. He was 21 years old.

Because he was born with frontal lobe brain damage, Landon was impulsive, which hurt his social skills, according to his mother.

When he was 14, he was charged with assault after threatening the vice-principal of his school with his pocket knife.

Following this incident, he was admitted to the Restigouche Hospital Center to receive psychiatric care.

He was there often [au Centre]from the age of 14 to 21. He was there almost always, except maybe a few months every two yearssays his mother, Andrea Cormier.

However, in January 2024, the young man was transferred to the Recovery Center Shepodyin Dorchester.

Even though Landon LeBlanc was not a prisoner, his doctor recommended that he be transferred there to obtain other types of care.

Being a federally funded facility was meant to allow Landon to work in the community.

The call that changed everything

On March 30, 2024, Andrea Cormier received the call no mother wants to receive.

A priest from the Center called me to inform me that my son was dead. I was devastated…I couldn’t believe it.

According to what she knows, Landon was found dead in his cell after choosing not to participate in the Center’s social hour.

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Landon chose to stay and sleep in his cell, something unusual for him even though he was very sociable. Another patient informed the nurses. By the time they got to his room, they were unable to revive him.says the grieving mother.

Seven months without answers

According to the GRC, an autopsy was carried out to determine the exact cause of the man’s death.

After the autopsy, police do not believe criminality played a role in the death.

Although Landon’s death was not criminal in nature or the result of suicide, Andrea Cormier still does not know the exact cause of her son’s death seven and a half months later.

The Coroner’s Office told me it would take time, two to three months. I called every two months after that and they tell me they will call me when they have more information.

It’s been too long. I’m ready now: I want answers.

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Andrea Cormier continues to hope that she will receive answers soon to understand what could have happened to her son.

Landon was charming, he cared about others. I often had to stop the car if he saw an old lady having difficulty with her grocery bags because he wanted to get out and help hersays Andrea Cormier.

The Coroner’s Office did not respond to our requests for information.