A woman serving a life sentence for the murder of her eight-year-old daughter has died in custody at the Fraser Valley Institution in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Lisa Batstone, 50, passed away on January 1, with the cause of death yet to be released by the Correctional Service Canada (CSC).
Batstone was found guilty of second-degree murder four years ago for suffocating her daughter Teagan Batstone in 2014. At the time of her sentencing, she was given a life term with a non-parole period of 15 years. The decision was upheld on appeal.
During the high-profile trial, it was revealed that Batstone had written a letter explaining the murder, putting the blame on her ex-husband, Gabe Batstone. The court heard that Batstone held a plastic bag over Teagan’s nose and mouth for four to five minutes before attempting to take her own life. She ultimately could not go through with it and was found with a superficial wound to her neck after seeking help when her car got stuck.
Batstone’s lawyers claimed she suffered from borderline personality disorder and anxiety at the time of the murder. However, the court ruled that those factors didn’t diminish her moral culpability for planning and committing such an extreme breach of trust as a parent.
The Appeal Court ruling mentioned that Batstone had been a loving and devoted mother with no prior criminal record or history of violence. It also revealed her note accusing her ex-husband of mental and emotional abuse, expressing fear that he would betray Teagan as well.
Details of the murder case and Batstone’s history of mental health issues shed light on the complexities of such tragic circumstances. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing mental health concerns and providing support to those who may be struggling with emotional or psychological challenges. Ultimately, the heartbreaking story of Lisa and Teagan Batstone highlights the devastating impact of untreated mental health issues.