Key evidence loss forces withdrawal of decades-old murder charges in Prince Edward Island

The province’s Crown Attorneys' Office confirmed that the first-degree murder charge filed in 2024 against Todd Joseph Irving for the 1988 death of teacher Byron Carr will be withdrawn. Charlottetown police informed prosecutors in August that a large portion of the physical evidence tied to the case is unaccounted for, and a subsequent review highlighted problems with the identification and record-keeping of the remaining items.

Ryan Gallant, director of prosecution, stated that without this crucial evidence there is no reasonable likelihood of securing a conviction. Irving, 59, had been arrested, charged with murder and interfering with human remains, and spent 18 months in custody before being released on bail. The case, which relied heavily on genetic genealogy to link Irving to the crime, was set to go to trial in November. The withdrawal deprives Carr’s family of a potential trial and closure.