The BC Coroners Service is refuting suggestions that the BC Coroners Service, or anyone working under its direction, deleted material from Mr. MacIsaac’s computer following his death.

“At no time did anyone from the BC Coroners Service have access to the contents of Mr. MacIsaac’s laptop in electronic format,” said regional coroner Matt Brown.

The coroner seized Mr. MacIsaac’s laptop from his home on Jan. 9, 2013, the day after his death had been reported to the BC Coroners Service and to the Saanich Police Department. The computer was not accessed at that time as it was password protected.

The next day, the BC Coroners Service, recognizing that it did not have the technical expertise to access the contents of the laptop, delivered it to the Island District Technological Crime Unit (an integrated police unit) for forensic analysis.

On Jan. 15, the police officer tasked with examining the computer stated he had found a document written by Mr. MacIsaac that might be of interest to the coroner’s investigation. The coroner picked up a printed version of that document the next day, but did not receive an electronic copy.

Following completion of the police examination of the computer, the coroner made arrangements with the family to have it returned to them. At the family’s request, this was to occur on Oct. 10 or 11, 2013. To facilitate this, the coroner retrieved the computer from the police on Oct. 9, 2013 and turned it over to the family representative on Oct. 11, 2013.

The officer completed his more detailed examination in September 2013, and the coroner picked up the laptop and other exhibits on Oct. 9 and returned them to the family two days later.

The coroner did not access the laptop once it was received back from the police. Checks with the police have confirmed they deleted nothing from the laptop.

Media Contacts:

Matt Brown
Regional Coroner, Island Region
BC Coroners Service
250 356-9133 or 250 480-8865