Elizabeth Fry Society Apologizes for Including Convicted Killer as Panelist at Event Honoring Slain Woman
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia issued a public apology after including Marissa Shephard, a woman convicted of manslaughter and arson, as a panelist at an event honoring Logan Alexandra Russell. Russell's family criticized the decision and announced they would no longer partner with the organization.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia has issued a public apology, calling its actions a "serious mistake," after facing criticism for including a woman convicted of manslaughter as a panelist at an event held in honor of a slain woman.
A panel discussion took place on November 5 at Dalhousie University in Halifax, centered on navigating the legal system and community support after violence victimization. The event was held in honor of Logan Alexandra Russell, who was killed in November 2025. Her partner is charged with second-degree murder in connection with her death. The gathering was the second of three panels supported by the Logan Alexandra Russell Fund.
Among the promoted panelists was Marissa Shephard, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in connection with the 2015 death of 18-year-old Baylee Wylie in Moncton, N.B. Shephard initially received a first-degree murder conviction in 2018, which was overturned on appeal in 2019. This led to a guilty plea for manslaughter and arson, resulting in a 12-year prison sentence in 2021.
Hannah Fang, sister of Logan Alexandra Russell, criticized the society for a "failure of judgment and lack of transparency." Fang stated that the family would never have agreed to associate Russell with the event if they had known about Shephard’s involvement. The Elizabeth Fry Society acknowledged that the decision regarding the panelists was made without consulting Russell's family.
Following the backlash, Maureen MacTaggart, mother of Logan Alexandra Russell, announced that the family would no longer work with the organization. The controversy has reopened grief for families across the Maritimes who lost someone to violence.
In response, the Elizabeth Fry Society issued a public apology and stated it is reviewing its processes to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.