The mother of a Saskatoon man murdered last summer says her son’s death hasn’t received the attention it deserves and believes the fact he was aboriginal has something to do with it.
Vivian Diehl says when son Kelly Diehl was murdered in August the local media didn't tell the victim's story. She believes that story deserves to be told.
"I wanted the media to know that I don't want my son to be forgotten," Vivian said.
Diehl was found dead in an alley behind the 500 block of Fifth Avenue North. Police say witnesses reported seeing an assault and two men are facing murder charges in his death.
Diehl's mother believes he ran for his life the night he was murdered. She was supposed to meet up with her son at his apartment that night but when she arrived a police officer told her the terrible news.
"He took my hand in his and said my son was gone and at first it didn't register. I said no, I said ‘My son and I are supposed to have lunch tomorrow.’ "
Vivian says Kelly was a construction worker who loved fishing and was a good baseball player. He always had a smile on his face.
She believes part of the reason his story didn't get a lot of media attention was because he's aboriginal. She says she has come forward not just on her son's behalf but for all murdered and missing aboriginal people
"Saskatoon is a mixture of different people but we all have the same hearts when our children die and we all mourn the same."
Diehl hasn't been able to get her son a tombstone and has started raising money to help with the effort to do her son justice.
"For me as a mother I wanted to get my son a tombstone. For me it’s kind of a closure."
Those who may wish to make a donation toward a grave maker for Kelly Diehl may contact Vivian through email.
