An Alberta couple has pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life in the death of a developmentally-challenged woman.
Denise and Michael Scriven faced charges after Denise Scriven’s sister, Betty Gagnon, was found dead in the front seat of a truck east of Edmonton in November 2009.
Gagnon, 48, was legally blind and described as having the mind of a five-year-old. The medical examiner found she died from blunt force injury to the head.
According to the agreed statement of facts, the couple locked Gagnon inside a number of locations on the their property -- including a chicken hutch, a dog run and an unheated school bus with no toilet or running water while she was in their care.
The couple was originally charged with manslaughter, assault, unlawful confinement and failing to provide the necessaries of life.
The judge accepted the pleas and has ordered a presentence report. The couple is set to return to court for sentencing April 19.