Presland Road arson case closed after arsonist dies before sentencing

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Prosecutors have closed the criminal case in the arson that destroyed an Overbrook housing complex in February 2023 after the accused arsonist, Pamela Shillingford, passed away unexpectedly earlier this year.

Shillingford’s lawyer, Gavin Johnston, confirmed this week his former client passed away while she was awaiting sentencing for the arson. Johnston did not have further details about the cause or the date of her death.

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The criminal matter was officially declared “abated” — a legal term meaning the proceedings have been suspended or terminated — on July 24.

A handwritten note on Shillingford’s court file indicates the case was “abated as Ms. Shillingford deceased.”

The order to close the prosecution’s case was signed on the same date by the presiding judge, Ontario Court Justice Norm Boxall.

Shillingford last appeared in court in February, when she entered a guilty plea on two of the five arson-related counts against her.

She was initially charged with arson and attempted murder after the three-alarm fire on Feb. 21, 2023 gutted the 32-unit apartment complex at 240 Presland Rd. in Overbrook. The attempted murder charge was withdrawn as part of her guilty plea.

She pleaded guilty to arson by “intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire to property… knowing that, or being reckless with respect to whether the said property was inhabited or occupied.”

Fifty-three people were displaced and three residents were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation and other medical issues. Two firefighters were injured battling the fire, which raged for hours after it was set around 5:30 p.m. and declared under control at 8:54 p.m.

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Shillingford also pleaded guilty in February to “willfully and without lawful purpose killing… or injuring animals kept (as pets).”

Numerous residents said their pets perished in the blaze.

“She did plead guilty, she was convicted, though she had not been sentenced yet,” Johnston said Tuesday.

Shillingford was initially denied bail following her arrest.

She was granted bail in December 2023, and according to her court file, was subject to a 24-hour GPS monitoring order with a tracking device fitted to her ankle.

She was ordered to remain inside or within 100 metres of the residence of her surety. The surety also posted a $2,000 bond, with an additional $1,000 bond set for Shillingford.

She was ordered not to communicate with anyone who was a resident at the Presland Road complex at the time of the arson. She was prohibited from owning or possessing any weapons and was ordered not to possess “any incendiary tools or equipment.”

It is not known when Shillingford died. She would have turned 33 on July 2.

According to her case file, she failed to appear in court for scheduled hearings on April 3, May 6 and June 11.

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A bench warrant was issued in each of those hearings. The case was closed in a hearing on July 24.

Robin Kevis Wagg lived next door to Shillingford’s apartment on the top floor of the Presland Road complex and reported having numerous “odd” interactions with her neighbour, including a strange encounter with Shillingford at her apartment door moments before the fire.

Wagg was among the 53 residents who were displaced by the fire, and among the many residents whose pets perished. She lost her two cats, Raven and Fuzz, as she and her partner were rescued by firefighters from their balcony.

Wagg said she was notified of Shillingford’s death in late July by the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, which owns and operates the Presland Road property.

The CCOC made efforts to provide permanent relocations for all residents displaced by the fire.

“We have a place now and are doing well,” Wagg said this week.

The fire damaged the building “beyond repair,” said CCOC executive director Sarah Button, and the remaining structure was torn down in November.

The CCOC said it planned to redevelop the site for affordable housing.

ahelmer@postmedia.com

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