Carl Hager
Published in the Pontiac Journal on January 28, 2026.
CAMPBELL’S BAY – The death of Katherine Hérault on March 4, 2024 at the Hull Hospital, after being held in custody in a cell at the SQ offices in Campbell’s Bay on March 1 of that year resulted in an inquiry into the actions of the officers concerned with her detention. Hérault had been arrested after a search of her home and taken to the SQ station in Campbell’s Bay on March 1, 2024 and held in an interview room.
The BEI (Bureau des enquetes independantes), the police watchdog, concluded in a report of July 2025 that no criminal charges would be laid against the officers presiding over her detention. The BEI report concluded that the legal obligations of the police officers had been met.
Hérault had been taken to jail by SQ officers and put in a detention cell where she suffered from a series of convulsions. It was later discovered that the woman suffered from chronic pulmonary disease, chronic anemia, depression and substance disorder. While being held alone in the detention room, during which time she apparently fell to the floor, there was no surveillance. When she was found the officers called in medical assistance. The woman died in hospital a few days later, from neurological complications. Questions arose about the speed and efficacy of the actions taken by the SQ officers working at the station at the time of her detention.
Quebec coroner, Francine Danais reviewed the case. Mme Danais concluded in her report of January 9th, 2026 that Hérault’s death was accidental and that drug abuse, meta-amphetamines and cocaine found in her system, hastened the woman’s poor medical outcome.
The coroner recommends that the Ministry of Public Safety revise its guidelines and practices of people held in detention. More specifically the coroner urges the Sûrète du Québec to review its practices and directives on the use of interview rooms in addition to those held in a cell block. The coroner recommends that someone be responsible for the “close, regular and constant supervision” appropriate to the condition of a person in custody in order to ensure their well being.