Edmonton woman Tiki Laverdiere, 25, was last seen in North Battleford before her remains were discovered outside the city in 2019. (Supplied photo/Battlefords RCMP). (Supplied photo/Battlefords RCMP)

By Angela Brown

Homicide investigation

Accused sentenced to life in prison for Tiki Laverdiere murder

Nov 25, 2022 | 1:14 PM

One of the accused individuals in the Tiki Laverdiere homicide was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder.

Soaring Eagle Whitstone was found guilty of first-degree murder at the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford on Friday.

Justice Brian Scherman pronounced Whitstone guilty of each of the four charges: first degree murder, unlawful confinement, improperly interfering with human remains, and theft of a vehicle.

For the first-degree murder charge, Whitstone was sentenced to life in prison with no eligibility for parole for 25 years. The unlawful confinement charge was judicially stayed, since it was reflected in the murder charge sentencing. For improperly interfering with human remains, she was sentenced to two years in prison concurrent, and for theft of a vehicle, Whitstone was sentenced to 90 days in custody also concurrent. She has been in custody since Aug. 6, 2019. No enhanced credit will be given for her time already served. Whitstone received a lifetime weapons prohibition. She must also submit a DNA sample.

Chris Browne and Charlotte Morden served as the Crown prosecutors in the case, while Christopher Gratton represented the defence.

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A publication ban is in effect on the details of the case until all the accused have gone through the court process.

Laverdiere, 25, was reported missing on May 12, 2019. She was last seen in North Battleford on May 1, 2019. Human remains were found in a rural area outside of North Battleford on July 11, 2019 and confirmed to be the Edmonton woman on July 16 of that year.

Tiki Laverdiere’s mother Carol Laverdiere (second from right) with family and supporters following court Friday. (Angela Brown/BattlefordsNOW Staff)

Following court, Tiki Laverdiere’s uncle Doug Laverdiere said to reporters the court decision is still “not enough” in his opinion.

“She [Whitstone] deserved what she got, but it’s not enough,” he said. “If it was in the States, it would be different. That’s what we settle for, but what’s done is done I guess… We didn’t know any of them, and they didn’t know Tiki either. That’s the hard thing about this. Nobody knew her [Tiki]. She [Tiki Laverdiere] was a sweet person, innocent. Very innocent.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow