Inquest into Zakery Rogers' Death Set for August 2025

Dr. Karen Schiff, Regional Supervising Coroner for the West Region, Hamilton Office, has announced that the inquest into the death of Zakery Rogers is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, August 18, 2025. The proceedings will be held by video conference, with Dr. Geoffrey Bond acting as presiding officer and Kristin Smith as inquest counsel, according to the Office of the Chief Coroner.

Mr. Rogers, 26, died in hospital on January 31, 2021, after being transferred from Hamilton Wentworth Detention Centre. The inquest is mandatory under Ontario’s Coroners Act. The case is of public interest due to the circumstances involving a transfer from a detention facility to a hospital and the legal requirement for an inquest in such cases.

The Office of the Chief Coroner stated that the inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rogers’ death. The jury may make recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths in similar situations. The inquest is expected to last five days and to hear from approximately 11 witnesses.

Members of the public can view the inquest proceedings live at https://firstclassfacilitation.ca/office-of-the-chief-coroner/inquest-into-the-death-of-zakery-rogers/. More information about inquests can be found at https://www.ontario.ca/page/coroners-inquests.