Details of Megan Gallagher’s death revealed as two plead guilty

Two people charged in connection with the death of Megan Gallagher pleaded guilty and were sentenced Wednesday.

The Saskatoon courtroom was so packed with supporters of Gallagher’s family that a second courtroom had to be opened to accommodate everyone.

Both Jessica Badger and John Wayne Sanderson pleaded guilty to committing an indignity to human remains.

In an agreed statement of facts read by Crown prosecutor Tyla Olenchuk, details about Gallagher’s death – and how her remains were disposed of – were shared in court, revealing more about the roles Badger and Sanderson played.

Court heard that police received information on Nov. 24, 2020 that Gallagher had been killed in a garage at 709 Weldon Ave.

Gallagher initially went missing on Sept. 20 that year.

Saskatoon police searched the garage and found no evidence, the court heard, but officers were eventually able to determine that Gallagher had been at the location based on the background of a photo she had taken.

Police then investigated a post made to Facebook by Jessica Sutherland, claiming the same property was the location where Gallagher had been killed. The post listed the names of several individuals she alleged were involved, including the claim that Badger and Sanderson were involved in the disposal of Gallagher’s body.

A number of individuals interviewed by police claimed to have seen Gallagher at the garage, with some claiming to have seen her tied to a chair.

Ernest Whitehead, another individual charged in Gallagher’s death, told police he saw Gallagher tied to a chair and saw her taken to a back room at the garage where she was killed. He claimed he was not present at the time of her death.

According to the agreed-upon facts, witnesses also claimed to have seen Gallagher dead with a plastic bag over her head.

The statement of facts revealed that Badger and another person asked Sanderson to help dispose of Gallagher’s body.

Badger paid Sanderson to dispose of Gallagher’s body, the court heard – a $120 e-transfer from Badger was found on Sanderson’s bank records.

Whitehead and Sanderson wrapped Gallagher’s body in a tarp and drove with her body in a truck to the Gabriel Dumont Bridge, the court heard. The two were going to dispose of Gallagher’s body there until they were spooked by a car driving past.

The pair then drove to the St. Louis Bridge south of Prince Albert, the court heard, and dumped Gallagher’s body over the side.

Gallagher’s remains were not located until Sept. 29, 2022. Forty days later, the identity of her remains was confirmed through forensic work and DNA testing.

A dozen victim impact statements were read at in the courtroom on Wednesday, and sniffles could be heard throughout the room.

Megan Gallagher. (Facebook)

Gallagher’s father Brian and stepmother Debbie both spoke, as did other relatives. Words like “unacceptable” and “unfathomable” were used to describe Gallagher’s death.

Many of the statements described Gallagher as kind, knowledgeable and fierce, someone who hated to be alone and hated to see people in pain. One of Gallagher’s cousins said Megan was always there for her in her darkest moments, pulling her back into the light.

Some spoke of sleepless nights, anxiety, grief and the physical and emotional anguish they’ve endured as a result of Gallagher’s disappearance and death.

Many of the statements were critical of Badger and Sanderson for keeping Gallagher’s death a secret, saying they could have made an anonymous tip during the past two years or left Gallagher’s body somewhere it would have been quickly discovered.

As friends, family and supporters of Gallagher spoke, Sanderson’s head remained bowed with his chin to his chest. It drooped lower as more of the statements were read aloud.

A joint submission for sentencing was presented by Olenchuk, proposing a three-year sentence for Sanderson.

With credit for time already served, Sanderson was left with 769 days remaining on his sentence. He must also pay a $200 surcharge, provide a DNA sample for the Saskatoon police database and have no contact with any of the others accused in the case.

Badger received a conditional sentence of two years less a day, which will be followed by an 18-month probation. The first 12 months of her sentence will include a 24-hour curfew, and the remainder will include a curfew running from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Badger must also not have any contact with any of the accused in the case and must complete 100 hours of community service.