Derek Saretzky up and talking to medical staff after suicide attempt

DerekSaretzky, the man accused of murdering an Alberta toddler and her father, is out of a medically induced coma and talking to medical staffaftera suicide attemptwhile in custody,according to a source close to the case.

The 22-year-old was rushed to hospitalon Wednesdayafter staff at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre in southern Alberta found him trying to hang himself.

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Saretzkyhas been charged with two counts offirst-degree murder in the deaths oftwo-year-oldHaileyDunbar-Blanchetteand her father, 27-year-old TerryBlanchette.There is an additional charge of committing indignity to a body involving the girl.

Hailey's body was found last week in a rural area near Blairmore, a day after her father was discovered dead in the southern Alberta town of about 2,000 people. The case sparked an Amber Alert across Western Canada and Montana.

There was originallyspeculation on social media and some media reportsthatSaretzkymay have been attacked by otherinmates atheorydismissed Thursdayby Alberta Justice.

"The medical distress that resulted in transportation to hospital was not the result of anyaltercation," Alberta Justice spokeswoman MichelleDaviosaid in a statement,while not namingSaretzkydirectly for privacy reasons.

Saretzkyhad been scheduled to appear in aLethbridgecourtroom Wednesday, but the matter was postponed.

He isdue in courtnext Wednesday.Calls to his lawyer for comment have not been returned.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive in the slayings of the father and his daughter, or whySaretzkyis their only suspectin the case.

'We don't want him dead, we want answers'

Blanchette's sister and Hailey's aunt, Amanda Blanchette, says she hopes Saretzky makes a full recovery.

"We don't want him dead, we want answers," she told the Crowsnest Pass Herald in a Facebook interview.

"Especially the baby, why take her from the house only to kill her?"

She also wonderswhy Saretzky was left alone in the correctional centre.

"I am curious as to how this happened," she said.

Amanda Blanchette alsogave her condolences to the Saretzky family.

"They are hurting as well," she said, asentiment that was echoed in a statement to members of the Saretzky family issued on Wednesday.