WOODSTOCK

Elizabeth Wettlaufer makes her strange homecoming back to Woodstock court Friday — and the reasons for the trip remain shrouded in mystery.

A week ago, the 49-year-old nurse facing eight counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of eight long-term care patients made a routine court appearance by video link in the Ontario Court of Justice. Her defence lawyer, Brad Burgess, made the unusual request to have her brought back to her hometown, “so I can consult with her in person.”

Speculation is rife on why Burgess wants her in court more than two months after she was charged with eight counts of first-degree murder and in the early stages of the massive prosecution, given that he is based in Toronto and, on his trips to Woodstock, would drive right past the Milton exit to the Vanier Centre for Women where Wettlaufer is being held.

Rumours are swirling that Wettlaufer might face new charges connected to ongoing police investigations at nursing homes outside Woodstock.

All eight patients died while in long-term care facilities and after they were administered an unidentified drug, police said in October at the time of Wettlaufer’s arrest.

The OPP, who are heading the investigation, were playing their cards close to the chest Thursday, only confirming they will release new information Friday.

“All I can say is there’s going to be a media release tomorrow,” Sgt. Dave Rektor said.

“That’s all I’m going to be able to say today.”

Police have been seen at nursing homes other than Caressant Care in Woodstock, where seven of the patients died, and Meadow Park nursing home in London, where an elderly London man died.

Wettlaufer also worked at Telfer Place in Paris, Brierwood Gardens in Brantford and Dover Cliffs in Port Dover, all operated by Revera.

Ed Dik, whose mother has been a resident at Telfer Place since early 2013, said he saw police forensic officers in the home’s administrative office and “checking out medication carts in the hallway” last October.

He said he’s upset that Revera management didn’t tell families that police could be releasing information related to Telfer Place.

“They must have known this was in the works and that something was coming out,” Dik said.

“Residents are going to be upset when they hear it on the news. We could have helped try to mitigate the damage,” Dik said.

John Beaney, Revera’s vice-president of operations, said in October Wettlaufer worked on a temporary contract at Telfer Place, on Grand River Street North in Paris, with a nursing employment agency from February 2015 to April 2016.

She worked at Brierwood Gardens, on Park Road North in Brantford, in August 2015 and May 2016. She was at Dover Cliffs in Port Dover in August 2016.

Contacted on Thursday, Jennifer Arnott, senior communications officer for Revera, declined to answer questions, saying it would be “inappropriate to comment on a police investigation.”

Possible additional charges may not be the only reason for Wettlaufer’s trip down Highway 401.

There are other possibilities.

Accused people wanting to waive preliminary hearings and send their cases straight to the Superior Court of Justice must do so in person.

It’s not unprecedented in Woodstock. Terri-Lynne McClintic, who with Michael Rafferty murdered eight-year old schoolgirl Victoria (Tori) Stafford, made that request during her prosecution and later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

That request is made in front of a judge. Wettlaufer is slated to appear before a justice of the peace.

Brian Farmer, a former Crown attorney and criminal law professor, said all the speculation about a big development in the case may be for naught.

“It’s easy to be cynical about people who want their clients brought to court. But sometimes they are in a better position to interview the people than they are in some of the institutional settings,” he said.

“It really could be just that simple . . . I don’t see anything sinister in that.”

The case has sent shockwaves across the country when Wettlaufer, a God-fearing health professional who had struggled with addiction, was arrested in late October.

Wettlaufer, who was known to write poetry on her Facebook page, had been on an unusual peace bond for a month while the OPP looked into the case. One of the conditions was she wasn’t allowed any drugs, including insulin.

Criminologist Michael Arntfield said this case, should Wettlaufer be convicted, would be a first.

“There is no documented health-care serial killer in Canada,” he said.

Families of the patients are bracing to see Wettlaufer up close.

Andrea Silcox, daughter of patient James Silcox, 84, who died in the Woodstock facility in 2007, plans to be in court to see Wettlaufer in person.

“I really can’t say how I’m going to feel until it happens,” she said. “I can hopefully keep my composure.”

“My big thing is that a lot of the people are not thinking about the other victims in this situation,” referring to Wettlaufer’s family, particularly her parents.

“Right now, her family must be going through hell. As far as I’m concerned they are the ninth known victims.”

Silcox said people have to realize that “all long-term care facilities can’t be painted with this horrible brush.”

“Our elderly people need to know this is an isolated incident. This doesn’t happen.”

jsims@postmedia.com

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