It has been two years since a 23-year-old Guelph man died while incarcerated at Millhaven Institution, and his mother says she still has no answers about what happened. Brody Robinson was found without vital signs in his cell at the maximum-security prison in Bath, Ont., on the evening of Oct. 29, 2024. Ontario Provincial Police determined his death was the result of foul play, but no charges have been laid. His mother, Kelly Cox, said she remains in the dark about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death. “I’ve never even gotten an autopsy report,” Cox said. “Nothing. I don’t even know how my son died.” At the time of his death, Robinson was serving a four-year sentence for possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Cox said investigators have offered little reassurance when she follows up on the case. “They keep telling me it’s still an ongoing investigation,” Cox said. “It’s like they don’t care.” In a statement to CTV News, OPP spokesperson Sgt. Erin Cranton confirmed the investigation remains open. “This remains an active investigation and significant investigative work is continuing,” Cranton said. “Complex investigations can take time to ensure all available evidence is thoroughly examined. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time.” Call for policy change Frustrated by the lack of answers, Cox has launched a petition calling for changes to how federal inmates are housed. She wants a policy that would prevent inmates sentenced to five years or less from being placed in maximum-security facilities alongside inmates serving life sentences. Millhaven Institution has housed several high-profile offenders, including convicted serial killer Paul Bernardo. “So hopefully that no other family has to go through what I’m going through,” Cox said. “And they, you know, put inmates less than five years sentence, not with lifers.” In a statement, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) offered its condolences and said it takes all inmate deaths seriously. The agency added that restrictions limit the information it can publicly disclose. The CSC also outlined its security classification and placement procedures, saying decisions are based on multiple factors rather than sentence length alone. “Upon entering the federal correctional system, all offenders undergo a comprehensive assessment and are assigned a security classification based on a number of factors established in law and policy,” the CSC statement said. “These include public safety considerations, institutional adjustment, escape risk, and other relevant information. Decisions regarding institutional placement are not based solely on sentence length. Offenders are placed in the institution and security level that can safely and appropriately manage their risks and needs.” Despite the lack of updates, Cox said she has no plans to give up seeking answers about her son’s death. “Brody didn’t deserve this at all,” Cox said. “He was an inmate, but he didn’t deserve — he deserved to come home.”
