Carson MacKay was sentenced to two years in prison for the manslaughter of Jodine Millar. the B.C. Supreme Court heard how MacKay buried the 57-year-old woman in a forested area on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam.
The fatal shove in a Coquitlam basement
The incident began in November 2022 during a confrontation in a Coquitlam residence. According to the court decision, Jodine Millar was in a manic state and had overfed her dog, leading to a mess on the basement stairs that Carson MacKay was cleaning. When Jodine Millar opened her bedroom door, she became angry and paranoid, confronting Carson MacKay while holding a steak knife she typically used for her medication.
A physical struggle followed, during which Carson MacKay pushed Jodine Millar with significant force. The court noted that Carson MacKay was roughly half the age of Jodine Millar and was substantially heavier and taller, making the act of pushing her an unlawful assault. jodine Millar fell backward into her room, landing on the steak knife, which remained lodged in her body.
The clandestine burial on Burke Mountain
Rather than seeking medical help or alerting authorities, Carson MacKay attempted to conceal the death to avoid murder charges. As reported in the court documents, Carson MacKay wrapped the body of Jodine Millar in blankets and secured her with rope, tape, and a dog collar. He then transported her in her own vehicle to a vacant lot on Burke Mountain, where he buried her in a surreptitious grave.
The deception continued the following day when Carson MacKay reported Jodine Millar as a missing person. This calcuated effort to hide the crime meant that the family of Jodine Millar remained in the dark about her fate for several months, as her body was not recovered until May 2023.
Why Justice David M. Layton accepted the two-year sentence
Justice David M. Layton presided over the sentencing in New Westminster, ultimately accepting a joint submission from the Crown and defense. The agreed-upon sentence was two years and 99 days, with 99 days of credit given for time already served, resulting in a net two-year prison term.. The judge noted that such joint submissions are typically granted unless they are so "unhinged" that they suggest a breakdown of the justice system.
In determining the sentence, Justice David M. Layton weighed aggravating factors, such as the fact that Jodine Millar was killed in her own home—a place that should have been safe—and the desecration of her body. However, mitigating factors also played a role, including the brief nature of the physical altercation and the element of chance involved when Jodine Millar fell onto her own knife.
Bipolar disorder and the vulnerability of Jodine Millar
The tragedy is framed by a complex domestic arrangement involving mental health struggles. Jodine Millar had moved from Manitoba to British Columbia in July 2021 so that her daughter,Sara Millar, could provide care for her. Jodine Millar lived with bipolar disorder, a condition that contributed to the manic state she was in during the final encounter with Carson MacKay.
This case highlights the precarious nature of domestic caregiving for those with severe mental health challenges. The trio had lived together in Coquitlam since May 2022, but the relationship between Carson MacKay and Sara Millar had ended by September 2022. Despite the breakup, Jodine Millar remained in the basement, creating a volatile living situation between a vulnerable woman and a former partner of her daughter.
The six-month gap before the May 2023 discovery
One of the most troubling aspects of the case is the timeline between the November 2022 death and the May 2023 discovery of the body. while the report mentions that Carson MacKay reported Jodine Millar missing the day after her death, it remains unclear what specific misinformation he provided to investigators to delay the discovery for half a year.
Furthermore, the source does not detail the specific evidence that eventually led police to the Burke Mountain site. Whether the discovery was the result of a tip, a confession, or forensic evidence remains an open question in the public record of this case.
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