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Accused Yukon mail bomber Leon Nepper dies in Whitehorse hospital

The Yukon Coroner's Office says Whitehorse resident Leon Nepper, accused of sending a mail bomb to his brother in B.C., died Sunday.

Acting chief coroner Heather Jones said the 73-year-old Nepper was found to be in medical distress at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre, where he was in custody.

She said he was taken to the Whitehorse General Hospital where he died at 1:25 p.m.

Jones said an autopsy will be done on Nepper at the Vancouver General Hospital later this week. She said her office will continue to investigate the cause of his death.

Nepper was arrested Sept. 13 after RCMP searched his apartment in downtown Whitehorse.

His brother, Roger Nepper, was seriously injured Sept. 11 at his home in Port Alice, B.C., when he opened a package that had been mailed to him.

Philippe Morin/CBC
Philippe Morin/CBC

Three of his fingers were later amputated and nails that were in the package when it exploded were removed from his stomach.

Roger's wife, Shirley Bowick, also suffered burns to her hands.

Leon Nepper was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, intent to cause bodily harm with an explosive device and illegally possessing an explosive device.

He had appeared frail in all of his court appearances, including Friday's, where his next appearance was set for Oct. 5.

Nepper had not yet entered pleas to the charges or applied to be released on bail.