Yukon double murderer Ralph Bernard Shaw dies in B.C. prison

Ralph Bernard Shaw, a 65-year-old man serving a life sentence for two murders and an aggravated assault committed in Faro, Yukon, in 2021, died on June 24, 2026, while in custody at Pacific Institution and Regional Treatment Centre in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Correctional Service Canada (CSC) announced Shaw’s death in a press release on June 25, 2026. The agency did not disclose the cause of death, but confirmed that a review of the circumstances will be conducted and that the coroner has been notified.

Shaw was sentenced on November 7, 2024, in Yukon Supreme Court in Whitehorse, after pleading guilty to multiple charges stemming from a series of violent incidents in Faro on October 26, 2021. Court documents and sentencing details indicate that Shaw first travelled to the Faro residence of his estranged wife, 42-year-old Saengduean Honchaiyaphum, and shot her on her balcony with an illegally obtained handgun. Honchaiyaphum died as a result of the shooting. At the time, Honchaiyaphum was living with a new partner. During the same event, Shaw wounded her partner by shooting him seven times as the man attempted to escape, ultimately chasing him into a neighbour’s residence. The partner survived the attack.

After the initial shootings, Shaw drove several kilometres to the home of 73-year-old Patrick McCracken, described in court as an acquaintance. Following a verbal altercation, Shaw shot and killed McCracken at his residence. Shaw subsequently targeted another acquaintance by shooting at that person’s house with a hunting rifle. While the intended target was not at home during this incident, the individual’s wife was present but was uninjured.

Shaw pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the death of Honchaiyaphum, second-degree murder in the death of McCracken, and aggravated assault for shooting Honchaiyaphum’s partner. For the most serious charge of first-degree murder, the Yukon Supreme Court sentenced Shaw to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years. For the aggravated assault, he received a sentence of 10 years, to be served concurrently with the murder sentences.

The series of events in Faro on October 26, 2021, had significant effects on the local community. In victim impact statements presented during sentencing, Faro’s chief administrative officer described the shootings as an event that significantly altered the town’s social fabric. The incidents prompted a substantial response from police and emergency services at the time and led to heightened security and trauma among residents.

Correctional Service Canada’s standard procedure following an inmate death includes a review of the circumstances. In Shaw’s case, the CSC stated that it would be conducting such a review, and that the coroner’s office had also been notified. No further details about Shaw’s health status or the specifics of his death have been released publicly.

The case drew attention in Yukon and nationally due to the nature and sequence of the attacks, as well as the relationship between Shaw and his victims. The shootings involved the use of illegally obtained firearms, and the attacks occurred at multiple locations within a small community, raising questions about firearm access and community safety in rural and remote areas. The events and subsequent court proceedings were widely covered in the region and cited as a catalyst for renewed discussions about violence and support services in northern communities.

Shaw had been serving his sentence at Pacific Institution, a federal correctional facility in Abbotsford, B.C., which houses inmates from across western Canada, including those requiring higher levels of security and mental health services. The Regional Treatment Centre, where Shaw was held, is designed for inmates with complex needs, though the CSC did not specify whether Shaw had been receiving specialized care.

The deaths of both Honchaiyaphum and McCracken, and the serious wounding of Honchaiyaphum’s partner, were addressed by the Yukon Supreme Court in its 2024 decision, which outlined the sequence of events and the impact on the victims and the broader community. The court noted Shaw’s guilty pleas and the absence of a trial, resulting in a relatively swift resolution to the criminal case. Shaw’s sentences reflected the mandatory minimums for first- and second-degree murder under Canadian law, as well as the severity of the aggravated assault.

In the wake of Shaw’s death, Correctional Service Canada has followed its established protocol, which includes notifying next of kin, reviewing institutional practices, and facilitating any external investigations as required by law. The case continues to be referenced in discussions of public safety, corrections oversight, and community healing in the Yukon and beyond.