Edmonton's Tiki Laverdiere. (supplied photo/RCMP)

By Tyler Marr

LAVERDIERE HOMICIDE

‘Quite unique’ says retired criminologist on Tiki Laverdiere homicide investigation

Sep 3, 2019 | 6:01 PM

With six people facing first-degree murder charges and two others charged with accessory after the fact to murder, Tiki Laverdiere’s homicide investigation is quite unique, according to a retired criminologist.

“I think it is reflective of a case where there is a lot of relationship and family entanglements, likely,” former University of Alberta professor Keith Spencer said.

Laverdiere was reported missing on May 12 after she last made contact with her family on May 1. Her disappearance was deemed the result of foul play by the Saskatchewan RCMP on June 10.

Human remains were found in a rural area outside of North Battleford on July 11 and an autopsy confirmed them to be the Edmonton woman on July 16.

Between July 20 and Aug. 15, all eight people were arrested and charged in connection to Laverdiere’s death.

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On Aug. 30, charges were upgraded against 23-year-old Jesse Sangster, who is now charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. The prior charge of accessory after the fact to murder was withdrawn when Sangster last appeared in North Battleford Provincial Court.

Soaring Eagle Whitstone, 33, Nicole Cook, 36, Shayla Orthner, 27, and Danita Thomas, 32, are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle.

Nicole Cook is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle, whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27 on the Thunderchild First Nation.

Nikita Sandra Cook, 31, is charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. Mavis Quinn Takekenew, 55, is facing a charge of accessory after the fact to murder.

Brent Checkosis, 18, is charged with accessory after the fact to murder, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. Recently, he was seriously injured during a stabbing at the Saskatoon Provincial Correctional Centre on Aug. 22.

“I think there is some benefit in having so many charged as there is the potential for information coming forward from those charged with murder or those who are implicated as participants at a lower level,” Professor Spencer said. “I think they have lots to work with and I’m curious to see what prompted this [homicide].”

He said a strain on resources is possible as legal aid is likely needed to represent many if not all the accused. Spencer doubts many are in a position to mount a private defence.

He said generally in cases involving multiple people facing similar charges, plea deals and negotiations are typical. Depending on the information provided, some charges could lessen in degree or be dropped altogether. He spoke in generalities as the case is before the courts.

“It may be one of the reasons why so many have been charged, some of them with a more peripheral involvement than others,” he said. “There is space there for negotiation around the charges and the pleas and I expected there will be an artful use of those kinds of resources in terms of laying charges, reducing charges and negotiating around those issues in return, perhaps, for some cooperation or assistance.”

Spencer said he has not witnessed many cases involving such a laundry list of individuals outside of those involving biker gangs.

“It really suggests a kind of extended family relationship involvement in this thing.”

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr