Strathcona County couple admit abusing disabled relative who later died

EDMONTON – A Strathcona County couple has admitted putting a developmentally disabled relative through weeks of severe abuse and humiliation leading up to her death in November 2009.

Michael and Denise Scriven each pleaded guilty Friday to failing to provide the necessaries of life to 48-year-old Betty Anne Gagnon, Denise’s sister.

It took Crown prosecutor Scott Niblock nearly 30 minutes to read out the abuse the Scrivens had put Gagnon through. The couple held hands in the prisoner’s box as they listened. They are not in custody.

Court heard that Gagnon was locked up in various “jail cells” on the Scrivens rural property, including the garage, basement, a chain-link fence enclosure for dogs, and a derelict school bus without water or heat. Gagnon spent her last night alive on the bus before she died on November 20, 2009.

Niblock told court that on one occasion, Denise spanked her sister around 70 times with a rubber glove. Michael Scriven videotaped much of the abuse. He can be heard laughing in the background.

Denise can be heard threatening her sister on some of the 21 videos. “You want some more Mr. Clean in your mouth?”

That day, after Gagnon suffered a seizure on the bus, Denise Scriven drove her younger sister to a local gas station for help. Gagnon died in the cab of the truck and RCMP began to investigate. The five-foot-two woman weighed only 65 pounds when she died.

Outside court, Gagnon’s former caregiver Suzanne Jackett said Gagnon was a vibrant, joyous woman before her last days at her sister’s home.

Jackett said while she was disappointed the Scrivens only pleaded to one charge, it was a relief to hear the truth.

“We’re disappointed, we would have preferred a stronger charge to take hold,” she said. “The system doesn’t always do what the victims need for justice. By them standing up and agreeing with those facts, they admitted what they did. We needed to hear that.”

Sue Thomas, another former caregiver, reacted with revulsion to what she heard in court.

“I don’t even think animals should be treated this way. They treated her like she wasn’t a human being.”

The Scrivens were originally charged with manslaughter. Those charges are expected to be dismissed.

Sentencing has been scheduled for April 19.

You can read the full agreed statement of facts below:

Statement of Facts – Scriven Case by  

With files from Vinesh Pratap, Global News