Police are investigating two in custody deaths at the Drumheller Institution after being dispatched on Christmas Eve.
On December 24, at around 3 a.m., during cell checks, inmate Nicholas Whynott, 24 was found unresponsive in his cell. Corrections officers entered his cell and initiated medical treatment. He was taken to the Drumheller Health Centre where he was pronounced dead at 3:56 a.m.
Whynott was serving a six year, 4 month sentence for possession for the purposes of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime as well as driving and provincial statue charges.
The RCMP was called and during their investigation of the death of Whynott, a second inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. Derek Upton, 35, who was serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, was taken to the Drumheller Health Centre where he was pronounced dead at 10:37 a.m.
Police say the investigation into both deaths is ingoing and autopsy are scheduled for both inmates this week.
As in all in custody deaths Corrections Canada will be reviewing the circumstances surrounding the death, and there will be a fatality inquiry.
