Man found not criminally responsible in 2011 prison death among ‘dangerous’ Alberta Hospital Edmonton escapees
Posted May 28, 2025 8:59 am.
Last Updated May 29, 2025 11:01 am.
Editor’s note (May 29): Justin Somers was arrested by Fort Saskatchewan RCMP
Warning: Article contains graphic details that some readers may find disturbing.
A man found not criminally responsible in the stomping death of an inmate at the Edmonton Remand Centre in 2011 is among two men wanted by police after they escaped Alberta Hospital on Tuesday evening.
Justin Somers, 39, and Coletan Bearhead, 29, are considered dangerous and should not be approached. Authorities believe they pose a risk to the public.
They were last seen running towards 18 Street near Alberta Hospital on Tuesday around 7 p.m. Both men were previously in custody at the Alberta Hospital medical facility.
The Edmonton Police Service was notified of their escape, and warrants for their arrests were issued.
Somers is five-foot-11, about 250 lbs., with brown hair, hazel eyes, and a tear drop tattoo under his left eye. He was last seen wearing a camouflage jacket and camouflage pants.
Bearhead is six-feet tall, about 220 lbs., with black hair, brown eyes, a moustache and pierced ears. He was last seen wearing a red hat, a red shirt, a black hoodie and black pants.
Somers was charged with second-degree murder in the May 12, 2011, death of Barry Raymond Stewart, a 59-year-old who was serving a five-day sentence at the Remand Centre for failing to pay $1,439 in fines – for being intoxicated in public, trespassing, failure to appear and jaywalking.
Somers, who was 25 at the time, was at the Remand Centre on charges of failing to comply with an undertaking and failure to appear.
Both men were placed in the same unit – one specialized for prisoners with mental-health issues – and in the same cell “after consultation with a psychologist,” according to the public fatality inquiry.
Stewart was sleeping on the floor when Somers climbed onto a bench and jumped on the man’s head with both feet. He did this repeatedly for several minutes before prison staff eventually arrived.
