Derek Saretzky sentenced to 75 years without parole for murders of toddler, her father and senior
WARNING: Story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers
There were no outbursts, just quiet crying from the families of a triple murderer and his victims as Derek Saretzkywas sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 75 years for his "abominable" actions in killing a southern Alberta toddler, her father and an elderly woman.
"It's the best we could hope for," said Bill Blanchetteoutside the courtroom in Lethbridge, Alta.
Blanchettediscovered his son's bloodied body in a house in the Crowsnest Pass region of southwestern Albertain September 2015. It triggered an Amber Alert for Terry Blanchette's missing two-year-old,HaileyDunbar Blanchette.
It was called off the next day when Saretzky confessed to killing both the father, who was 27, and toddler, and took police to the rural area where he says he strangled the child.
Police would later discover Saretzky had also murdered Hanne Meketech, 69, just days earlier.
In the courtroom on Wednesday, Saretzky's parents and brother embraced and sobbed after the sentence was handed down. Several of Saretzky's family members, including hisfather, were witnesses for the prosecution, giving evidence that helped convict the triple murderer. They were praised by the judge for the virtue they displayed throughout the trial.
"The knife tore a hole in thecommunity fabric," said Alberta Court of Queen's Bench Justice WilliamTillemanas he deliveredthe sentence Wednesday.
"The testimony from neighbours and family, heartbreakingas it was, has shown the good virtue and honesty that exists in humanity."
Saretzky'ssentenceis one of the stiffestin Canada since the death penalty was abolished.
'Focus on the good of humanity'
Tilleman said he hopes with the lengthy sentence, the community including those involved in the trial can begin toheal and rebuild.
"I ask all of you to focus, not on these horrible acts but on the good of humanityand the community unification and solidarity to which you can now return."
With credit for time served in pre-trial custody, the sentence means Saretzky, 24, will have to wait 73 years until he is eligible for parole.
In June, ajury found Saretzky guilty of three counts of first-degreemurder for the 2015 slayings of Blanchette, 27, his daughter andMeketech.
Jurors also found him guilty of committing an indignity to the toddler's body, which was dismembered and burned.
On Wednesday, Saretzkyreceived a five-year, concurrent sentence for that crime.
Saretzky showed no visible emotion
In announcing the sentence,TillemansaidSaretzky'sactions were "simply abominable" andhad caused "grave injury to his entire community."
The family members of the victims andSaretzky'sown family have lived through "a real horror story," the judge said.
Saretzkystood asTillemansentenced him, showing no visible emotion.
Several of the jurors were in the courtroom for the sentencing and handed around a box of tissues in the hallway afterwards.
'Time for the community to heal': Crown
Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou thanked the jury for "their equanimity, their professionalism and their dedication" while sitting through weeks of often gruesome evidencepresented during the trial.
Papadatou echoed Tilleman's hope that the sentence would help the community of Crowsnest Passmove forward.
"This chapter is now closed and it's time for the community to heal and to put themselves back together again," she said.
Defence lawyer Patrick Edgerton had asked for a 25-year sentence for his client but said he wasn't surprised by the judge's decision to hand down a 75-year sentence, "given the current state of the law."
"It is, of course, not what Mr. Saretzky was hoping for but it's not a great surprise," he said.
Edgerton said Saretzky is still "processing" the sentence.
"He didn't have a great deal to say about it. He has some reflection to deal with over the next few days."
Consecutive parole ineligibilities rare
Consecutive parole ineligibilities are relatively new to Canadian law.
Since the Conservative government brought in the legislation, three triple murderers have been sentenced to life in prison with no parole for at least 75 years, including:
- Douglas Garland inCalgary earlier this year.
- New Brunswick Mountie killerJustin Bourque.
- Winnipeg serial killer John Paul Ostamasin 2016.
Edgerton had argued a75-yearparole ineligibility would be a "crushing" and "unduly long and harsh" sentence and wouldn't motivate his client to be a model inmate.
"Giving an inmate the possibility of living to their parole eligibility date is important," wrote Edgertonin his argument. "It will also promote the safety of other inmates and prison personnel."
Edgerton said it would be up to his client whether to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Saretzky re-enacted killing
The jury deliberated for three hours after hearing nearly three weeks of testimony in June. Some of the key evidence was in videos where Saretzky not only confessed to all three killings, he also re-enacted the toddler's murder.
Meketechwas a former neighbour ofSaretzky's. On Sept. 9, 2015, Saretzky said, he broke into her home after dark, and attacked her with a baseball bat and knife. The senior's body was found on her bedroom floor.
Five days later, Saretzky told police, he broke into Blanchette's home, killed him with a crowbar and a knife, and took the sleeping child from her crib. He then drove her to a rural property owned by some of his family members.
Saretzky said he strangled the girl before he performed acts of cannibalism and burned her remains. For that, he was also convicted on a charge ofindignity to a body.
In the firepit ashes, police recovered hundreds of bone and tooth fragments belonging to a child. Hailey's blood was also found on a toy and in a metal pot nearby and ona pair of boots seized from Saretzky's apartment.
As for a motive, Saretzky told police he had feelings for Cheyenne Dunbar, Hailey's mother and Blanchette's ex-girlfriend. He said that the night he broke into Blanchette's home, he didn't knowDunbar was no longer living there with her daughter.
Family members of the father and daughter described Saretzkyin their victim impact statements as a "beast" whose actions will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
When police asked Saretzky if he had killed Meketech as practice ahead of the slayings of the father and daughter, he confirmed hehad. He also said he didn't think anyone would miss Meketech.
Throughout the trial, several of her friends showed up at the courthouse.
- Read our blog from the trial below. Onour mobileapp?You can alsosee ithere.
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