In loving memory of my beautiful son,
deceased at age 37 years - Kingston, Ontario CANADA
Classified a "Suspicious Homicide" by Kingston Police Service investigators, Robin Michael's death was attributed to "Natural Cause" according to the Coroner's Report. The report also commented that "an extra dose of HALDOL" had been administered earlier in the day . . by a caregiver before Robin Michael a person with epilepsy was left alone in a hot bath tub when his caregiver went for a smoke break.
15 minutes later Robin Michael was discovered to be V.S.A. (vital signs absent) - lifeless.
On Christmas Eve, an autopsy report prepared by the Forensics Laboratory at Toronto revealed that without exception Robin Michael's internal organs were viable; that although living with epilepsy since infancy, his dentures had remained in his mouth during bathing and subsequently during resuscitation attempts by a Kingston EMT.
At a later date a "whistle blower" contacted family to reveal the occurence of 3 other cases of "Suspicious Homicide" within a period of 6 months in other group homes operated by the same Kingston organisation responsible for Robin Michael's care.
On a family visit in May 2002 to Kingston, Robin Michael had suffered a mental breakdown disclosing that he'd been a victim of repeated sexual assault by a male caregiver in his Saskatchewan group home. Taken to hospital for treatment at Kingston he was committed for 9 months to Johnson Three, the mental health facility of Hopital Hotel Dieu.
Only after hospital administration declared Robin Michael would be discharged as a "homeless street person" did Ontario Government Minister John Baird intervene to arrange appropriate placement in the group home where he died suddenly less than 12 months later.
On Fathers' Day, Peter Mason - Bishop of Ontario officiated at Robin Michael's funeral, followed by cremation and he rests for eternity in Rideau Memorial Gardens at Dollard des Ormeaux QC.
Appearing before Provincial Court Judge Barrett Douglas Halderman in Melfort, Saskatchewan the assailant , a 19 year old male resident of Chelan, SK was given a "Conditional" sentence of 9 months and he walked.
After a long battle with cancer, Judge Halderman died on January 2nd, 2009.
In a hometown Memorial Service for Robin Michael at Spiritwood SK in September 2002, Karl Kwiatkowski, MLA Carrot River Valley SK gave the eulogy.
A dear family friend and formerly General Manager of Porcupine Opportunities Program, Karl Kwiatkowski had been closely involved with Robin Michael's placement and care since July 1995 at Porcupine Plain, SK.
The youngest mayor ever elected in Saskatchewan, and CEO of SARC, Karl left P.O.P following a successful campaign as Candidate for the Saskatchewan Party to serve in the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly.
A few months after Robin Michael's Memorial Service, Mr Kwiatkowski's sudden death was announced by Rev. Lorne Calvert, Premier of Saskatchewan.
On the day of Robin Michael's interment at Dollard des Ormeaux, his father Michael attended at Witchekan Lake First Nation to stand before a gravesite as his foster son Dennis Fineday was laid to rest following sudden death. Dennis' birth father the late Edward Fineday Chief of Witchekan Lake First Nation, Senator FSIN and Michael had been friends for life.
In February that same year, cancer took the life of Michael's partner Mary Douhaniuk at Salmon Arms, BC and her cremains were interred in a family plot at Maria Hilf, SK.
A distinguished Public Health Nurse, Mary had served many years with Canada Health. She had been Nurse in Charge at Iglulik, NWT (Nunavut) where she and Michael met in 1979 before moving south to Saskatchewan.
As the last man standing, it seems to fall upon me to ensure this story is told. Take from it what you will.
Matthew 18:6 (New International Version):
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
There is a poem that keeps Robin Michael in our heart:
http://www.philolexian.com/philo/Trees.p
