Woman charged with manslaughter in death of man found in Dartmouth encampment
Kiara Marie Organ, 22, has been charged with manslaughter following the death of Jeffrey Alexander Emmerson, 56, who was found dead in a tent at a homeless encampment on Geary Street in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The charge comes after police initially responded to an assault report involving Emmerson in December 2024, which he declined medical attention for before his body was discovered four days later.
Kiara Marie Organ, age 22, has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Jeffrey Alexander Emmerson, age 56. Emmerson was found dead in a tent at a homeless encampment located on Geary Street in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Police first responded to the Geary Street encampment on December 22, 2024, following a report that Emmerson had been assaulted by a woman. During this initial response, Emmerson declined both paramedic assistance and further police involvement. His body was discovered four days later, on December 26, 2024, also known as Boxing Day.
The Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service ruled the death a homicide in June 2025, based on findings from an autopsy. This determination launched a formal homicide investigation.
Organ was arrested and arraigned in Dartmouth provincial court on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. She is scheduled to return to court on October 27 for election and plea. In addition to the manslaughter charge, Organ faces other charges including theft, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, and sexual assault.
Court records indicate that Organ was previously sentenced to two years in federal custody in January 2022. That sentence was related to robbery and assault charges stemming from an incident in December 2021.
The location where Emmerson died, the Geary Street site, has undergone changes in its designation status over recent years. At the time of the death, Global News reported that it was one of five designated outdoor sheltering locations in the municipality. However, CityNews Halifax noted that in July 2020, the site was one of nine locations within the Halifax region officially designated as temporary encampments. By 2025, the municipality confirmed that the Geary Street encampment would be de-designated, giving residents until June to move.