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UCF #104200120

Prince Edward Island Man Pleads Not Guilty To The Murder Of Byron Carr


Byron Carr
COLD CASE

Byron Carr

Murder Case Timeline

  • January 26, 2024

    After 35 years, Charlottetown police have made an arrest in the 1988 killing of 36-year-old Byron Carr. Chief Brad MacConnell said on Friday, that 56-year-old Todd Joseph Gallant, also known as Todd Joseph Irving, of Souris, PEI has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of interfering with human remains. Gallant is scheduled to appear in court on February 1.

  • February 1, 2024

    At a brief hearing in PEI Provincial Court Thursday morning, the case was adjourned until March. "That will give everyone an opportunity to understand the case and understand the allegations that are being made against Mr. Gallant so that we can figure out what the next steps should be in the process," defence lawyer Chris Montigny told reporters outside the courthouse.

  • March 7, 2024

    In provincial court Thursday morning, defence lawyer Chris Montigny was granted another adjournment because Gallant is not yet ready to enter a plea. Chief Judge Jeff Lantz agreed to adjourn the case until March 21.

  • March 21, 2024

    Gallant did not appear in court, either in person or by video conference. Defence lawyer said he and his client have received "partial disclosure" of the evidence that police have collected. Gallant will next appear in court on April 11.

  • April 11, 2024

    Case adjourned. Gallant is scheduled to appear in court on May 1.

  • May 1, 2024

    The defence for Gallant, requested and received another adjournment. This is the fifth adjournment in the case. Defence lawyer Chris Montigny said there is "a lot to manage" in terms of the evidence collected by police. Gallant did not appear in court. He agreed to remain in custody until his next court date.

  • June 27, 2024

    Gallant elects to have his case heard before a Supreme Court judge and jury, should it go to trial. Todd Joseph Gallant, who also goes by Todd Joseph Irving, will be back in court July 4.

  • July 4, 2024

    Case adjourned. Todd Joseph Gallant, 57, the man accused of killing Byron Carr, has elected to have his matters heard in PEI Supreme Court.

  • October 10, 2024

    Todd Joseph Gallant pleaded not guilty to the murder of Byron Carr. He will return to court on December 10. None of the charges against him have been proven.

  • December 10, 2024

    The lawyer representing Todd Joseph Gallant says he intends to challenge the admissibility of DNA evidence that police have called key to laying charges.

    Gallant did not appear during his scheduled Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island appearance. His next scheduled court appearance is February 11, 2025. He will remain in custody until then.

Charlottetown, PEI — Byron Carr was last seen alive at approximately 3:00 am, Friday November 11, 1988, which was the beginning of a long Remembrance Day weekend. He was found dead in the bedroom of his home, 24 Lapthorn Avenue, Charlottetown, 31 hours later.

Time of death was determined to be between 3:00 and 9:00 am, November 11. Evidence at the scene indicated his death followed a sexual encounter with another male. Carr was strangled, stabbed and the killer left a note saying; "I WILL KILL AGAIN!"

Andrew still holds out hope for closure. He was friends with Byron Carr and recalls him fondly. He remembers Byron the host — an introvert, but one who loved to be with people. He remembers the music Carr liked — rock and roll and other things — and the dinner parties he threw.

But those memories are tinged with sadness because Carr's 1988 murder has never been solved. "I'm saddened for his family, and I'm sad for his friends," said Andrew, who spoke to SaltWire on the condition his surname is withheld.

"I hope and pray that this will get solved somehow. My second thought is, he has a lovely family."

On Friday November 11, 1988, a witness reportedly saw Byron Carr parked talking to a man on a bicycle at Prince and Richmond Streets. Carr pulled away, drove north up Prince Street in the direction of his house. The man on the bike appeared to follow. This is the last known sighting of Carr alive. Police believe the cyclist may be his killer.

Carr, a 36-year-old gay teacher who tried to keep his sexuality a secret, was known to cruise the Queen Square area of Charlottetown, a place where other gay men commonly frequented. In the early hours of Friday, Nov. 11, 1988, Carr dropped off a friend in the city's downtown area. He was last seen Friday between 3:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. driving a white Ford Tempo west on Sydney Street approaching Great George Street. Next day Saturday, at 2:30 a.m., residents in his area reported hearing Carr's dog barking, which wasn't common, and a vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed.

Police believe the murderer and a second man returned to the house, and this is what the dog was barking at. It was at this time, they believe, the message "I will Kill Again" was written on the wall and Carr was stabbed with a long-handled kitchen knife.

Police believe the two men were looking to retrieve items from the house that might identify the killer. A pair of socks was left behind in the kitchen garbage.

Concerned that Carr has not appeared at a family function, relatives went to the house. They found the kitchen door ajar and the dog in his kennel. Carr's body was discovered in his bedroom at 11a.m.

Byron Carr Obituary

  • Name: Byron Carr
  • Birth: June 1, 1952 — Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
  • Death: November 11, 1988 (aged 36) — Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
  • Burial: Saint Mark Anglican Cemetery — Queens, Prince Edward Island
  • Memorials  New

For the LGBTQ community in Prince Edward Island, Todd Joseph Gallant's arrest brings a long-waited sense of relief and closure. It acknowledges the collective pain they have endured.

Steven Sonneman

Steven Sonneman

See more Case Files contributed by Steven Sonneman.

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