Man charged with murder after death of patient at Campbellton psychiatric hospital

RCMP have charged a 26-year-old man with murder after the death of a patient at a northern New Brunswick secure psychiatric hospital.

On Tuesday, Jordan Shawn Deyoung of Moncton was charged with killing Ronald Savoy.

Deyoung appeared in Campbellton provincial courtto face a second-degree murder charge, according to RCMPnews release, and has been remanded into custody.

Deyoungwas charged nearly four months after49-year-old Savoy was killed.

Savoy himself was beingheld at the Restigouche Hospital Centrewhile awaiting trial for murder when he was assaulted and later died of his injuries. He died just a few weeks before his trial, which wasdelayed by his mental illness and inability to understand proceedings.

RCMPcontinue to declineto name the medical facility where Savoy was assaulted. The Vitalit Health Network previously confirmed that Savoy was a patient at Restigouche, and that the assault happened there,but has also declined to say how he was assaulted or by whom.

The RCMP news release does not give any detailabout the assault or say whyDeyoung was at Restigouche whether he was a patient, visitor or staff member.

Assault dates back to the fall

In the news release, RCMP said they began investigating theassault on Savoyon Nov. 16, 2022. They arrested Deyoung on Nov.29 in connection with what was "aggravatedassault" at the time. In November, Savoy was still alive but in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

On Dec. 23 Savoy died, escalating the investigation from assault to homicide.

RCMP announcedSavoy's death and said a man was arrested, but they hadnot provided any moreupdates on the case until Thursday.

According toVitalit Health Network,the Restigouche Hospital Centre serves people with complex psychiatric illnesses. It provides medium- and long-term psychiatric rehabilitation, as well as forensic examinations for criminal responsibility and fitness to stand trial.

Before he died,Savoy was facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Serge Chamberlain.

Issues around Savoy'sfitness to stand trial and criminal responsibility were prominent in the proceedings, which began in the summer of 2021.

After he died, the Crown withdrew the charge against Savoy.

Deyoung is scheduledto return to court on April 24.