Parents, grandparents, aunt’s, uncle’s and family friends are giving those children close to them an extra hug after news broke that two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette’s body had been found on Tuesday.
Derek James Saretsky, 22, was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged on Wednesday with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of indignity to a human body. Hailey’s father, Terry Blanchette was found dead in his home Monday morning.
A candlelight vigil was held in Blairmore, Alberta Tuesday night and Ranchlands Victim Services informed the public at the vigil that Hailey’s body was found.
Judy Nelson, Program Manager of Big Country Victim Services said victim services helps the community to mourn during a situation like this.
“Because it is a small community like Drumheller would be, we would be out in the community to help the public. Because once it is your community, all of a sudden you are one big family. It is very upsetting, it is frightening for the community... It is not only just the family, it is the wide family,” she said.
“It is frightening. Everybody has got small children or they know someone with small children, or they have their grandchildren, nieces and nephews, the neighbour’s children,” she said.
The events have touched local residents as Shannel Boon, a mother of three from Drumheller, said her heart stopped when she heard Hailey was missing.
“To hear a child just a few months older than my son was missing, I was in fear for what the turn out would be. It was heartbreaking when they announced that her poor little body had been found. I sobbed,” she told inSide Drumheller.
“I sobbed for a small soul who’s light was snuffed out by a monster. I sobbed for her family because they would never get to watch her grow into a young woman. I had pure rage against a complete stranger that could harm an innocent child,” she said.
“Last night, I held my babies a little tighter, I kissed them a little more and I told them how precious they are to me,” she finished.
Boon said she plans to leave her front porch light on until Hailey is laid to rest because, “sometimes it helps to shine light in the darkness to help souls find their way.”
