Man serving manslaughter sentence escapes from Indigenous-run healing lodge

Mar 21, 2019 | 9:20 AM

EDMONTON – A man serving nearly nine years for manslaughter and one other crime has escaped from an Indigenous-run healing lodge in Edmonton.

Police say staff at the downtown Stan Daniels Healing Centre discovered Wednesday that Jesse Leppanen was missing from the facility.

The Correctional Service of Canada immediately contacted police and an arrest warrant was issued for the 27-year-old.

Leppanen is also convicted of failing to comply with conditions of an undertaking or recognizance order.

The healing centre is a 72-bed facility run by Native Counselling Services of Alberta.

It offers a variety of programs to residents who are either conditionally released offenders or those with inmate status.

by Canadian Press