Son of Prince Albert homicide victim 'willing to forgive' in 30-year cold case
One of the only memories Theron Morin has with his mom is speaking Cree with her.
When she was allegedly murdered in 1991 – when he was just five years old – he and his siblings got split up in the foster care system, and he lost his traditional language as he reached his school years.
That caused him to hold on to that one memory even tighter.
“That’s my biggest thing. I wish I would have got to know her when I was older,” said Morin.
“She was 28 when she passed away and it’s been 30 years, so the investigation’s been going on longer than she’d been alive. And I’m 35 now,” he said. “It’s very unfortunate to live past your mother.”
It’s been 30 years since police located Jean LaChance’s body in a field near Prince Albert’s Victoria Hospital. She was the victim of a homicide, according to Prince Albert police, but no one has been charged in her death.
“If they would come out and confess or whatever, I would be willing to forgive them. I mean, that’s a lot of guilt to hold on to for all those years,” said Morin.
“That’s just how I was taught and how I think my mom would have wanted me to handle the situation.”
But that wasn’t always his reaction, knowing there’s someone out there who knows what happened.
“When I was younger, yeah, I was angry. I wanted revenge, but the older I got, the more I just realized that there has to be forgiveness there,” he said.
Morin said he talks with his siblings about their mom a lot more when September rolls around – hoping there have been new leads, and that someday, they’ll know the truth.
“It’s something we never forget.”
'30 YEARS AGO, THERE WAS NO NATIONAL INQUIRY'
Darlene Rose Okemaysim-Sicotte is the co-chair of the Saskatoon-based group Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik, meaning Women Walking Together.
The group formed in 2005, after calling on the federal government for an inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).
During a pre-inquiry meeting in 2016, Okemaysim-Sicotte heard from LaChance’s daughter during a round circle with two federal ministers.
“That was the first time she actually was very public about it. I think it was really brave of her to be able to look right into ministers’ faces and tell them, with a lot of tears, what she experienced and what that loss meant to her,” she said.
Okemaysim-Sicotte said there’s been a lot of progress for MMIWG in the past three decades – and had LaChance’s homicide occurred today, there likely would have been a faster response to learn what happened to her.
“I think that’s the big underlying factor in this case, is that 30 years ago, there was no national inquiry,” she said.
“There are new supports. There has been an inquiry, there has been better police response.”
The Prince Albert Police Service decined an interview request. In a news release, it said officers continue to investigate the homicide of LaChance.
“Somebody out there knows the truth and we hope they will do the right thing and come forward. The family and friends of the missing and murdered cannot rest until they know the truth,” said Sgt. Kathy Edwardsen in the release, who works in missing persons and historical crimes.
LaChance was last seen at the former Coronet bar at closing time, according to police. Multiple witnesses have been able to help police piece together a timeline of her activities that weekend.
Anyone with information is asked to call Prince Albert police or Crime Stoppers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Five areas Canada's foreign interference commissioner says needs more investigation
Commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue released her interim report examining foreign election interference on Friday. Here are five elements of the issue that Hogue says she needs to further probe before she can make conclusions or recommendations.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
Why your airfare may be getting more expensive
Skyrocketing airfare prices are linked to heightened competition and rising food and fuel, according to the CAA.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
New weight-loss drug Wegovy not a 'magic bullet,' doctor warns
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Funeral today for broadcasting legend and voice of 'Hockey Night in Canada' Bob Cole
A funeral is being held today for hockey broadcasting legend Bob Cole in his hometown of St. John's, N.L.
Foreign meddling 'did not affect' overall federal election results: inquiry report
Foreign interference by China did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections won by Justin Trudeau's Liberals, a federal commission of inquiry has found.