DISCRETION ADVISED: The following account includes explicit descriptions of a fatal incident.
The joint first-degree murder trial of Cheyann Peeteetuce and Summer-Sky Henry in Saskatoon unraveled within three days.
On Jan. 8, 2025, during the judge-alone trial at Court of King’s Bench, Justice Richard Danyliuk addressed the family of murder victim Megan Gallagher.
“Truth thrives in the light of day,” he stated.
“Yet, there are instances involving sensitive information that must remain undisclosed.”
Subsequently, Danyliuk cleared the courtroom of the family, media, and public.
Following this, Crown prosecutors Carla Dewar and Tyla Olenchuk were replaced without clarification. Shortly after, Justice Mona Dovell took over the case and accepted manslaughter pleas from Peeteetuce, 31, and Henry, 26.
Instead of facing a potential life sentence without parole for 25 years, both women were jointly sentenced to seven years for manslaughter. Post-credit for time served, Peeteetuce was given about six years to serve, while Henry was left with five years and four months.
“The term ‘manslaughter’ hit me hard,” expressed Brian Gallagher, Megan’s father, outside the court.
“This one truly shook me to the core.”
How did an eight-week first-degree murder trial evolve into manslaughter pleas in less than a week?
Extensive publication bans due to impending trials prevented details from emerging earlier. With the conclusion of Roderick Sutherland’s manslaughter trial, the bans were lifted, unveiling the previously untold story.
The reason behind the plea deals for Peeteetuce and Henry can be traced back to the early stages of the police investigation into Megan Gallagher’s disappearance and the crucial role of a confidential informant (CI) in the trial.
The incident at the garage
Despite publication bans, a basic narrative emerged from police reports and previous trials regarding Megan Gallagher’s fate.
Gallagher, a 30-year-old mother, went missing in Saskatoon in fall 2020. Her family’s last contact with her was on Sept. 18, and she was last seen leaving a friend’s house on Sept. 19.
Surveillance footage showed Gallagher at a Saskatoon convenience store on Sept. 20. Her bank card was used at a local McDonald’s by two men, one identified as Robert (Bobby) Thomas.
She was reported missing by her family on Sept. 30.
In January 2021, police announced an investigation into her disappearance as a homicide. Her remains were found on the bank of the South Saskatchewan River in September 2022.