Saskatoon·NewThe last of nine people charged in the death of Megan Gallagher is going to trial on a lesser charge. Roderick Sutherland was originally charged with first-degree murder, but the Crown filed a new indictment Aug. 8.Roderick Sutherland now charged with manslaughter, not 1st-degree murderDan Zakreski · CBC News · Posted: Aug 11, 2025 2:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 24 minutes agoMegan Gallagher, 30, was last seen alive leaving her friend’s house on Sept. 19, 2020. She was captured on a surveillance video at a convenience store in Saskatoon the next day. (Brian Gallagher/Facebook)A Saskatoon man originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Megan Gallagher is going to trial on a lesser charge.Roderick Sutherland is now charged with manslaughter, along with unlawful confinement and offering an indignity to human remains.The Crown filed the new indictment on Aug. 8. Sutherland’s jury trial at Court of King’s Bench is scheduled to run from Oct. 6 to 24. Megan Gallagher’s family shocked by release of man accused of killing her Sutherland was one of four people charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 20, 2022, homicide of the Saskatoon mother. The three others took plea deals rather than stand trial.Robert Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 18 years. Cheyann Peeteetuce and Summer Sky Henry both pleaded guilty to manslaughter and were each sentenced to seven years.Other people charged in Gallagher’s death include: Thomas Sutherland was charged with manslaughter, but it was stayed. Ernest Vernon Whitehead, 41, was sentenced to 739 days in jail on a charge of indignity to human remains. Jessica Badger [Sutherland], 44, was given a conditional sentence order of two years less a day for indignity to human remains. She will serve her sentence in the community, then be on probation for 18 months. John Wayne Sanderson was sentenced to 1,096 days for indignity to human remains, minus 327 days for pre-sentence custody. Robin John was charged with unlawful confinement and aggravated assault, but the charges were stayed last fall. Publication bans prevent reporting the details of Gallagher’s murder, as presented in agreed statements of facts at earlier sentencings. The bans are to ensure a fair jury trial for Sutherland.ABOUT THE AUTHORDan Zakreski is a reporter for CBC Saskatoon.
Final accused in Megan Gallagher homicide to stand trial on reduced charge
