Ranger rifle used in 2015 murder-suicide
Coroner calls for review as man was banned from firearms
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, February 6, 2017
LUTSEL K'E/SNOWDRIFT
The NWT's chief coroner is calling the murder-suicide of a Lutsel K'e couple "outrageous" after learning the wife killed her husband and then herself with a military-issued rifle her spouse was banned from possessing.
Tobie and Vanessa Marlowe, shown in an undated photo, were found dead in the bedroom of their Lutsel K'e home by a family friend Feb. 10, 2015. - Facebook photo |
Cathy Menard said the .303 British Lee-Enfield rifle - standard issue for Canadian Rangers members patrolling the North - should not have even been in the home at the time of the tragedy.
Tobie Marlowe was found shot to death in the bedroom of his home, along with his wife Vanessa Marlowe, on the evening of Feb. 10, 2015. The Canadian Armed Forces had given Tobie Marlowe the .303 in 1997.
In a report made public last week, Menard states the man, whom she did not name but has been widely reported to be Tobie Marlowe, had a serious criminal record, which included a four-year firearms prohibition order at the time of his death. He did not have a criminal record when he received the rifle, Menard said.
Both Marlowes, however, had been investigated by RCMP repeatedly afterwards for physical and verbal abuse toward each other.
Menard said there did not appear to be any checks and balances in place for the Canadian Rangers to monitor its members and complete routine criminal background checks.
Menard said the Canadian Armed Forces, which oversees the Rangers, apparently did not realize the level of domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse that had been escalating in the home in the years after Marlowe was issued the rifle.
"The Canadian Rangers Patrol Group was not aware of this accumulating criminal record. I find that very concerning not only for the Canadian Rangers military program but for community members - and for keeping our communities safe," said Menard. "The only time a criminal record check was done on him was when he first joined the Rangers in 1997."
Menard has recommended the Department of National Defence undertake a full review of the Canadian Rangers program.
She directed that specifically to Gary Walbourne, the ombudsman for the Canadian military and Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk, commander of the Canadian Army.
Menard said the Rangers must do a better job of making sure members who have been issued weapons do not have a criminal record and/or a history of violence. That recommendation was one of five in total
Menard made in her report.
She also had two recommendations for the RCMP, including one suggesting the Mounties consider using a gender-neutral risk assessment tool similar to those currently in use by other police departments so both men and women involved in domestic violence can be tracked and assessed by police.
She added that the RCMP's domestic violence assessment tool tends to focus mostly on men. Menard said the RCMP has conducted domestic violence reviews in the past and have made recommendations to improve their response to domestic violence issues.
Menard has also called on the territorial government to do more to combat family violence. She has recommended that the Department of Health and Social Services support a long-term, sustained public awareness program to combat family and domestic violence.
"It's really important to raise this awareness of the signs of abuse in communities so that people who are close to those who are at risk or abusive can provide support," said Menard. "As a coroner we look at how can we make the most impact - how can we get their attention ... What recommendations are going to work."
News/North sought comment from the Department of National Defence but a media spokesperson said the military was unable to respond before press time.
