The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia has issued an apology following public backlash over its decision to include a New Brunswick woman convicted of manslaughter as a panellist at an event about support after violence.
The controversy began when Marissa Shephard was promoted as a one of the group’s “amazing panellists” for a Nov. 5 discussion at Dalhousie University.
The society is a non-profit organization focused on supporting and improving the lives of marginalized groups of women, girls, non-binary, and gender diverse individuals who have been let down by the justice system.
According to the university’s event page, the event was centred on “navigating the legal system and community supports in the wake of violence victimization and loss.”
In the promotional material that has since been removed from its Facebook page, the group said Shephard brought both lived and personal experience to her work supporting individuals impacted by the criminal justice system, adding that Shephard’s experience with childhood trauma, gender-based violence, and incarceration has helped her understand “the complex ways trauma and systemic barriers can contribute to involvement in the justice system.”
The panel was held in honour of Logan Alexandra Russell, a 32-year-old dance teacher from North Sydney, N.S., who was killed in November 2025 by her partner.
Shephard convicted of manslaughter and arson
In 2021, Shephard pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in connection to the death of 18-year-old Baylee Wylie in Moncton.
Wylie was stabbed over 100 times and beaten, then his body was burned in a Sumac Street townhouse in December 2015.
Shephard was initially convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years in 2018, but the charge was overturned after a successful appeal in 2019.
After pleading guilty, she received a 12-year prison sentence with credit for the time served in 2021. She reached her statutory release on Feb. 27, 2024.
Group calls actions ‘serious mistake’
In a social media statement on Monday evening the organization called it’s decision to include Shephard a “serious mistake,” and acknowledged they had selected the panel participants without consulting Russell’s family.
“Our work asks us to consider everyone who may be affected by violence, and above all, to do no further harm,” read the statement. “With this event our actions did not reflect that, and we have harmed those we support.”
The society offered an apology to Russell’s family and pledged to address their missteps and review their processes in the coming days to prevent further harm.
They did not provide a direct apology to Wylie’s family.
Acadia Broadcasting requested an interview with the society, but they declined.
Instead, they shared a brief email statement.
“We are not taking part in interviews at this time. Our staff have received repeated threats of violence, and our priority right now is the safety of our team and the people we support, and respect for families who are grieving.”
Russell’s family speaks out
Following the promotion of the panellists, Russell’s family released two statements in social media criticizing the group’s speaker selection.
Russell’s sister Hannah Fang said in the statement on Sunday they are “deeply disturbed” by the society’s “failure of judgment and lack of transparency.”
Fang said the family had collaborated with the group to establish a fund in Russell’s name to be used to support educational initiatives and panels focused on helping victims of intimate partner violence, and their families navigate the legal system.
“We entered into this partnership because we believed in the work, believed in the importance of raising awareness, and wanted something meaning to come from the senseless loss of Logan,” read the statement.
“However, on Nov. 5, the Elizabeth Fry society hosted a panel at Dalhousie University featuring a woman CONVICTED in the MURDER of a young-man — in the exact manner my sister was killed. With zero disclosure to the family or attendees.”
Fang went to say that they would have never consented to having Russell’s name, image, or memory associated with the event had they known of Shephard’s involvement.
“Logan’s name WILL NOT be used to lend credibility to an event without consideration for what that name represents,” she wrote.
Fang also criticized the society’s lack of communication, noting that three days after the panel, no one from the group had contacted the family to offer clarification, acknowledge their concerns, or even apologize.
Fang finished the statement by demanding that the organization cease all use of Russell’s likeness, name and personal story in any fundraising or promotional efforts.
That same day, Russell’s mother, Maureen MacTaggart, shared a separate statement on her Facebook page.
MacTaggart expressed how “beyond disappointed and heartbroken” she was that Russell’s legacy had been used in connection with Shephard.
MacTaggart also offered an apology to Wylie’s family for the trauma the situation might have caused them.
“I am Logan’s mom and I am in no way ok with this!” She wrote. “We feel deceived by this decision and not be made aware of this ahead of time.”
