SASKATOON - One of the accused individuals in the death of Saskatoon woman Megan Gallagher has been sentenced to life behind bars.
Robert "Bobby" Thomas was originally expected to stand trial at the Court of King's Bench in Saskatoon for a charge of first-degree murder.
The court confirmed to Â鶹ÊÓƵ, he instead pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of second-degree murder.
Thomas was sentenced at court on Dec. 6, 2024, to life in prison, with no chance of parole until he has served at least 18 years.
He also received a lifetime firearms prohibition and must abide by a no contact order.
A publication ban is in effect on the details of Thomas' sentencing hearing until all the accused have gone through the court process.
Three people have already been sentenced in the case.
Ernest Vernon Whitehead, 41, Jessica Badger [Sutherland], 44, and John Wayne Sanderson, 45, were sentenced on a charge of indignity to human remains. Whitehead was sentenced to 739 days in jail. In March, Badger was given a conditional sentence order of two-years less a day, which means she serves it in the community. After her CSO is complete, she will be on probation for 18 months. Sanderson was sentenced to 1,096 days, less 327 days for pre-sentence custody, which meant he had 769 days left to serve.
Others charged with Gallagher’s murder include Cheyann Crystal Peeteetuce, Summer-Sky Henry, Thomas Richard Sutherland, and Roderick William Sutherland who are still to be scheduled for trials for their charges. Henry and Peeteetuce and next booked for private case management conferences on Dec. 19, 2024, while Thomas Richard Sutherland, and Roderick William Sutherland are scheduled for private pre-trial conferences on Feb. 14, 2025.
Robin Tyler John was facing charges of unlawful confinement and aggravated assault which were stayed on Sept. 21, 2023, Saskatoon Provincial Court confirmed.
Gallagher went missing in Saskatoon in September of 2020, and four months later the Saskatoon Police Service said they were treating her disappearance as a homicide.
On Sept. 29, 2022, Saskatoon Police Service along the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Saskatchewan River near St. Louis. The discovery was made within hours on the first day of their scheduled four-day search. They were identified as Megan Gallagher.
- With files from Lisa Joy
