The Thunder Bay Police Service has laid criminal charges against a local care home and a staff member following the death of an 86-year-old resident in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Marina Gilbert, 52, and the city-run Pioneer Ridge Long Term Care Home both face charges of criminal negligence causing death. Police announced the charges on March 16, 2026, after a year-long investigation into the resident’s treatment.
The investigation began on February 11, 2025, after a resident was injured during an incident on January 30, 2025. The resident later died on March 6, 2025. The police department’s Crimes Against Seniors’ Division led the review to determine if the care provided met legal standards.
In addition to the negligence charge, the care home faces a charge of obstructing justice. Police allege that the facility failed to take reasonable steps to prevent serious harm or death to those living there. Investigators also claim the home tried to delay and get in the way of the official police investigation into the matter.
Pioneer Ridge is a long-term care facility operated by the City of Thunder Bay. While individual workers are sometimes charged in these types of cases, it is rare for an entire facility to face criminal charges. This legal action follows a lengthy process of gathering evidence regarding the resident’s death and the facility’s response to the police.
