Man who escaped Saskatchewan Penitentiary may have ‘impersonated’ another inmate

Keiston Custer escaped from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary on Feb. 20. He was recaptured on March 4, 2026. (Photo source: Correctional Service of Canada)

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has launched a National Board of Investigation after a man serving time for manslaughter escaped from Saskatchewan Penitentiary by allegedly impersonating another inmate.

In an update Thursday, CSC said preliminary findings from an internal review point to “possible procedural errors” in how the incident was handled.

Keiston Custer, 30, escaped custody on Feb. 20 while being transported by correctional officers from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert.

Custer was serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter, use of a firearm, rioting, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

CSC says he may have impersonated another offender with the same last name who was scheduled for release that day.

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Custer was arrested without incident by Prince Albert police on March 4. He now faces additional charges related to the escape and has been placed under heightened security.

The employees who were involved in the incident are currently on administrative leave pending the results of a disciplinary investigation.

CSC says it has already implemented changes to its inmate release verification procedures.

The Board of Investigation (BOI) will include three members reviewing both the escape and the response, with one member coming from outside the agency.

Not to be outdone, provincial correctional officials in Prince Albert disclosed a similar erroneous release on the very day that Custer was apprehended.

Dagan McKenzie was released in error from the Prince Albert Correctional Centre on March 4 and remains at large.

RELATED STORIES:

• Prince Albert police arrest inmate who fled custody
• Man serving sentence for manslaughter still at large after escape in Prince Albert
• Inmate serving manslaughter sentence escapes Saskatchewan Penitentiary

With files from Hayatullah Amanat and Rory MacLean