The Basement: A Son's Quest for Justice

J-Majors 2023
  • 5.0 (3)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • COMPLETE SERIES
The Basement: A Son's Quest for Justice

In February 2004, Jessie Garwood was found dead in the basement of her home in Winnipeg, Canada. Police said her death was an accident — that the 87-year-old woman had tripped when walking down the basement stairs. But blood spatter from the scene and a possible motive from the woman’s then step-granddaughter left Jessie’s son, Jim Garwood, on a quest for justice. For almost two decades, Jim has been trying to find out what happened to his mother — a case of one step forward and two steps back.

Season 1

  1. EPISODE 1

    The Basement: A Son's Quest For Justice EPISODE 1

    What do you do when you believe your mother was killed but police believe otherwise? In February 2004, 84-year-old Jessie Garwood was found dead in the basement of her small home in Winnipeg, Canada. Hours after being found, police determined her death was accidental. This is the story of her son's long quest to have the questions he has about her death answered. In episode 1 of 4, reporter Sierra Sanders lays out the mysteries in the case. The Basement is a product of senior Red River College Polytechnic journalism students.

    26 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    The Basement: A Son's Quest For Justice EPISODE 2

    "What do you do when your mother gets killed and you're sure that's the case? Do you leave it?" Reporter Shauna Turnley dives deep into Jim's efforts over the years to consult experts — including a veteran RCMP homicide investigator — who turn up massive questions about the intial police probe into Jessie Garwood's death.

    32 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    The Basement: A Son's Quest For Justice EPISODE 3

    Reporters Emma Honeybun and Caleb Dueck detail Jim's efforts to engage the justice system outside of police channels to further his investigation into Jessie Garwood's death. After years he finds a measure of success through a rare court proceeding: A wrongful death lawsuit under Manitoba's Fatal Accidents Act.

    22 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    The Basement: A Son's Quest For Justice EPISODE 4

    Reporters Rachel Ferstl and Kalkidan Mulugeta look at whether Jim has done all he could to advance his concerns about his mother's death. Winnipeg police respond to his claims and recent victory in civil court against his ex-stepdaughter. As well, the executive director of the Manitoba Prosecution Service speaks to why their office declined to take on the case.

    23 min
  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

In February 2004, Jessie Garwood was found dead in the basement of her home in Winnipeg, Canada. Police said her death was an accident — that the 87-year-old woman had tripped when walking down the basement stairs. But blood spatter from the scene and a possible motive from the woman’s then step-granddaughter left Jessie’s son, Jim Garwood, on a quest for justice. For almost two decades, Jim has been trying to find out what happened to his mother — a case of one step forward and two steps back.

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