A probation officer gave Basil Borutski’s manager a high score of “Target met: 95% – 100%” just two days after Borutski murdered two ex-partners he was previously abusing – Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam – along with Carol Culleton on September 22, 2015. Over the three years leading up to the killings in the Ottawa Valley, probation officers in Renfrew and Pembroke, Ontario, were responsible for ensuring Borutski, a repeat domestic violence offender, followed court orders after serving jail time for threatening Warmerdam’s family and assaulting Kuzyk.
Despite being tasked with liaising with various partner agencies to ensure the safety of Kuzyk, Warmerdam, and Borutski’s ex-wife, the local manager’s assessment indicated that Kuzyk should have been contacted monthly. A subsequent death review highlighted missed opportunities for intervention by probation officers.
Multiple case reviews conducted before the murders in November 2013 and January 2014 revealed opportunities to charge Borutski for probation breaches related to his failure to attend domestic violence offender programs. Despite notifications and orders, Borutski did not comply, and his probation officers’ approach remained unchanged.
The disclosure of Borutski’s probation and parole record sheds light on missed opportunities to address his non-compliance and risks. The disclosure, comprising over 400 pages, was provided by Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General after a two-year appeal process.
The management review tool used by probation officers has been updated since 2015, although specifics about the changes were not disclosed by the ministry. There are concerns about systemic issues in the probation system’s handling of cases like Borutski’s, with calls for improvements to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Despite acknowledging past shortcomings, there have been efforts to improve communication and coordination among agencies to enhance victim safety.
Kirsten Mercer and Malcolm Warmerdam, who have been involved in advocating for changes following the inquest, emphasize the need for Ontario’s probation system to do better in preventing intimate partner violence incidents. They acknowledge some positive changes but stress the importance of further improvements to address systemic gaps and enhance victim protection.