Brother of alleged Sask. group home victim upset accused was granted release
A man who thought his brother would "flourish" during his time living in a Hepburn, Sask. group home says he's now "filled with guilt."
Due to a court-ordered publication ban to protect his brother’s identity, CTV News is using a pseudonym for the man’s first name.
Fred says his now 62-year-old brother who lived in Shepherd’s Villa for roughly 25 years is one of five of Brent Gabona’s alleged victims.
Gabona, 52, faces five counts of sexual assault and three counts of sexual exploitation of a person with a disability. According to police, the assaults are believed to have occurred between 1992 and 2009.
“We thought that this was where he would flourish, where he would be safe. Now all we have are questions and thoughts that his days would have been filled with dread,” he told CTV News.
He says the shock of the news is still settling in.
“Five helpless individuals allegedly assaulted over a period of years, and one of them is your brother. A man who is blind, autistic, has some cerebral palsy and is a severe epileptic. How is he supposed to process this when I can't?”
In 2014, Fred relocated this brother to Alberta, where he resided in another group home until the start of the pandemic. He now cares for him at home.
“While we’re still in shock and overwhelmed by this, I find myself having to speak out … these are people who were fully dependent on Brent Gabona.”
In a statement last week, Shepherd’s Villa said the group home had “no knowledge of the alleged abuse” and is fully cooperating with the RCMP’s investigation. It’s also conducting its own investigation.
The statement said Gabona has not been employed at the care home since 2009. The other alleged victims are no longer residents of the group home.
The alleged assaults were reported to Rosthern RCMP on April 19 and Gabona was arrested last week.
Fred says Gabona has been released from custody on conditions and hopes to seek “proper justice.”
“It sends to me the message that you can be accused of committing serious crimes, but you can go home and watch the hockey playoffs while your alleged victims are left to reel in the horror of it all,” Fred said.
Fred hopes that by speaking out he can be a voice for his brother and the four other alleged victims.
He says Shepherd’s Villa has not reached out to him but would be interested to learn more about what allegedly occured under its roof.
“Peace is being able to look at the foothills and the mountains that surround our home and see the beauty again because right now all I feel is sadness.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.