Jaclyn Elias leaves North Battleford Provincial Court in North Battleford on Feb. 10, 2026, during her trial involving allegations related to a Wilkie care home. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

CRIME

‘Today is the day you’re going to die’: Accused, witness testify in Wilkie care home trial

Feb 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM

Testimony continued Tuesday in the Wilkie care home abuse trial, with a care worker describing hearing a resident scream in distress and the accused defending her conduct before court adjourned.

North Battleford Provincial Court heard testimony from Crown witness Erica Herle and the accused, Jaclyn Elias, who faces charges including assault, sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon and uttering threats involving residents at Prairie Branches’ Wilkie Group Home 3 between January 2023 and February 2024.

The residents were non-verbal and required full-time care.

Herle, who has decades of experience in continuing care, testified she was working at the group home when she heard a loud noise from a resident’s bedroom while preparing breakfast.

“I heard this screech,” Herle told court, adding she was about five feet down the hall from the room.

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She testified she later saw the resident brought from his room in a wheelchair, appearing visibly shaken and frightened. She initially believed he might be having a seizure because of how distressed he appeared.

When asked during cross-examination whether the resident had made similar noises before, Herle agreed it was not the first time but said, “it was a different type of screech.”

She described the sound as lasting “a few seconds… too long anyways.”

Herle acknowledged she did not personally witness what happened inside the room, but testified another staff member later told her the accused made a threatening remark to the resident.

“She told you that Jaclyn had said to [him], ‘Today is the day you’re going to die,’” defence counsel Meagan Ward asked during cross-examination.

“That is correct,” Herle responded.

During questioning, Ward challenged Herle’s recollection, referencing an earlier police statement suggesting the accused also allegedly placed a hand over the resident’s mouth.

Herle initially said she did not remember that detail but later acknowledged it after reviewing footage of her RCMP interview.

“Well, if I said it on there, then yes,” she said, adding, “I just distinctly remember her saying it was the day you’re going to die. That’s what stuck with me.”

Elais admits joke but denies abuse claims

Elias later took the stand in her own defence, admitting she once referred to a resident as a “pervert” but denying other allegations of inappropriate conduct toward residents.

Under questioning by Crown prosecutor Danielle Elder, Elias acknowledged making the comment while leaning over the resident and speaking to a co-worker. She said it was part of what she described as a running joke among staff because the resident was known to stare at female staff members’ chests.

When asked whether such behaviour was appropriate, Elias responded “probably not.”

Elias rejected allegations she intentionally pressed her chest into residents or engaged in other inappropriate physical conduct.

She also denied placing a washcloth into a resident’s mouth, testifying the client sometimes placed their own hand or cloth in their mouth and that another worker only entered the room as she was removing it.

Elias confirmed she received workplace training addressing abuse and professional boundaries, including instructions not to yell at or touch clients in a sexual manner.

She also testified she had never been previously disciplined or warned about inappropriate conduct toward residents during her years working in care facilities.

Elias acknowledged she had disagreements with former co-worker Lisa Knuff, describing them as an ongoing workplace issue.

She testified she believed Knuff and Crown witness Erica Herle were friends and worked closely with other co-workers, suggesting workplace relationships contributed to tensions among staff.

Knuff testified earlier in the trial and alleged Elias pushed her chest into a resident’s face, placed a washcloth into a resident’s mouth, put her finger into a resident’s mouth and poked another resident in the groin area during care routines.

Court adjourned following testimony and is scheduled to return March 2 for a scheduling appearance, when dates for closing arguments are expected to be set.

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com