Based on coverage from CBC, paNOW, SaskToday, and Canada.ca.
It seems like something straight out of a suspense novel, but the escape of Donald Buchanan from the Saskatchewan Penitentiary is all too real. On the night of September 13, 2025, during a routine headcount at 9:30 p.m., staff at the multi-level security federal institution in Prince Albert discovered that Buchanan was missing. Now, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), alongside local police and the RCMP, is on high alert, searching for the 28-year-old who managed to slip through the cracks.
Buchanan, who stands at six-foot-two and weighs 166 pounds, is not your average escapee. His distinct tattoos—a koi fish on his right arm, "Trans Canada" on his wrist, a cross with a razor blade on his upper arm, and "YXE" with a plane and cartoon figure on his hand—make him quite recognizable. Yet, despite these identifying marks, he remains elusive.
The circumstances of his escape are still under investigation, but what we do know is that Buchanan was serving a two-year sentence for a laundry list of offences. These include drug trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime valued over $5,000, and a couple of weapons charges. Not exactly a minor rap sheet, which makes his disappearance all the more concerning.
The CSC wasted no time in contacting the Prince Albert Police Service and the RCMP once Buchanan was found missing. A warrant for his arrest has been issued, and authorities are urging anyone with information on his whereabouts to come forward. The urgency is palpable, as the CSC and law enforcement are keen to resolve this situation swiftly.
Escapes from federal institutions like the Saskatchewan Penitentiary are rare, but when they do occur, they highlight the challenges of managing security in such facilities. The CSC has pledged to investigate how Buchanan managed to escape, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future. This isn't just about recapturing one inmate; it's about ensuring the integrity of the correctional system itself.
For the residents of Prince Albert and surrounding areas, the escape is a stark reminder of the potential risks that come with living near a correctional facility. While the police have not indicated that Buchanan poses an immediate threat to the public, his criminal history suggests that caution is warranted.
As the search continues, the community is left to wonder how an inmate could vanish from a supposedly secure environment. It's a question that will likely be at the forefront of the CSC's investigation. In the meantime, the hunt for Donald Buchanan presses on, with authorities hoping to bring this real-life thriller to a swift and safe conclusion.
