RCMP admits failure in Susan Butlin's murder after ignored assault claims

The RCMP has admitted it failed Susan Butlin, a woman murdered in 2017 after reporting sexual assault and harassment to police. Nova Scotia’s assistant commissioner Dan Morrow acknowledged the force’s shortcomings in handling her case. The admission comes as experts and politicians demand accountability for systemic failures in addressing gender-based violence. Susan Butlin was killed by Ernie Ross (Junior) Duggan on 17 September 2017. Months earlier, she had filed a complaint against him, alleging sexual assault and harassment. The RCMP closed her case three days before her death, telling her there were no grounds for charges.

Gender-based violence experts argue the investigation was deeply flawed. Myrna Dawson, director of the Canadian Femicide Observatory, stated there was no real inquiry into Butlin’s allegations. Trauma therapist Kristina Fifield compared the RCMP’s response to their handling of warnings about Gabriel Wortman before his 2020 mass shooting. The RCMP is now reviewing all sexual assault cases led by Cpl. Patrick Crooks, the officer in charge of Butlin’s complaint, where no charges were laid. Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson Cindy Bayers claimed the force has since improved training and procedures for such investigations. However, critics say systemic issues persist. Opposition NDP leader Claudia Chender called for stronger action against gender-based violence and greater oversight of the RCMP. Fifield added that victims still face disbelief and dismissal when reporting abuse.

The RCMP’s admission highlights long-standing concerns over how sexual assault cases are handled. A review of past investigations is underway, but advocates insist deeper reforms are needed. The case underscores the ongoing struggle for accountability in protecting victims of gender-based violence.