Full Breakdown
Charges Dropped in Byron Carr Murder Cold-Case After Evidence Lost
By Drooid · · How we work
Case Overview
Todd Joseph Gallant (also known as Todd Joseph Irving), 59, had been charged in early 2024 with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains for the 1988 killing of Byron Carr, a 36-year-old teacher whose body was found strangled and stabbed in his Charlottetown home. A jury trial was slated for the following month, but the Prince Edward Island Crown Attorney’s Office announced that all charges were withdrawn because the majority of the physical evidence collected in the original investigation could no longer be located.
Investigation History
The murder was first investigated in 1988, a period the police now describe as having “different…standards” than today. The case was reopened in 2007, at which point DNA evidence—including a pair of underwear believed to belong to the killer—was secured. In 2022, investigators employed genetic genealogy, uploading DNA profiles to public family-tree databases, a technique the then-police chief called a “game-changer” for major crimes. This effort ultimately led to Gallant’s identification as a suspect and his 2024 charge.
Evidence Loss and Charge Withdrawal
In August 2024, the Crown Attorney’s Office was informed that “extensive crucial evidence” from the 1988 investigation was missing. A police review confirmed that “the overwhelming majority” of the collected exhibits—such as the murder-scene knife and the towel used in the strangulation—had been lost. Without this evidence, prosecutors determined there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction, prompting the withdrawal of all charges.
Official Reactions
Interim police chief Darren MacDougall expressed disappointment, noting that modern investigative practices and evidence-management procedures have changed dramatically since 1988. The Crown Attorney’s Office described the outcome as “deeply disappointing” and extended condolences to Carr’s family, acknowledging the loss of a potential avenue for closure. John Carr, Byron’s brother, lamented the inability to achieve justice through a trial.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This was 1988. It was a different time in policing, the standards were far different than they are today,” — November. Darren MacDougall, interim police chief
- “There’s no justice when someone is killed,” — John Carr
- “Genetic genealogy is a game-changer for police in how we investigate major crimes,” — Brad MacConnell, then-police chief
The case underscores challenges in handling historic evidence and highlights how advances such as genetic genealogy can both revive cold cases and, paradoxically, be undermined when original physical artifacts are no longer available.