Skip to content

‘He can’t hurt anybody else’: Accused in B.C. murder case dies in custody

Teresa Bartz, sister of murdered Willy Bartz, is feeling relieved after seven years of court proceedings
web1_240229-vms-fairgrieve-deadpush-1_1
Willy Bartz (front left) was killed in Vernon in 2017. Here he is pictured with his father Zeke Bartz (front right), his aunt Mildred Davis (back right) and Mildred’s daughter, Terri Lynn Davis. The accused in Willy’s murder, Richard Fairgrieve, died in custody on the weekend of Feb. 17, 2024. (Submitted photo)

Teresa Bartz says justice has been served, just not in the way she expected, after word came to her that the man accused of killing her brother in Vernon in 2017 died while in custody over the weekend.

Richard Fairgrieve was charged with second-degree murder in October 2018, 15 months after 50-year-old Willy Bartz was found dead in a room at the Sundance Suites in Vernon.

Support local journalism today

Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Brendan Shykora

About the Author: Brendan Shykora

I started as a carrier at the age of 8. In 2019 graduated from the Master of Journalism program at Carleton University.
Read more