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)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

RCMP investigation

Nicole Cook receives life sentence after guilty plea in Laverdiere case

Jan 16, 2023 | 12:00 PM

One more of the individuals facing charges in the Tiki Laverdiere homicide investigation was sentenced at the Court of King’s Bench in Battleford.

Nicole Cook, 39, of Edmonton, who was originally facing a charge of first-degree murder, instead pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter on Jan. 13, the court’s office confirmed.

Cook was sentenced to life in prison, with no eligibility for consideration for parole until she has served at least 10 years in custody.

The remaining charges of kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body, and theft of a motor vehicle were stayed.

As RCMP previously reported, Nicole is the mother of Tristen Cook-Buckle , whose funeral Laverdiere attended on April 27, 2019 on the Thunderchild First Nation.

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Crown prosecutors Chris Browne and Charlotte Morden handled the case, with defence counsel Brian Pfefferle, and Justice K. Zerr presiding.

The court ordered a publication ban on all details of the trial proceedings and sentencing hearings, including evidence and victim impact statements, until the judge or jury involving all the accused individuals have retired to consider their verdict.

The last accused is Jesse Sangster, 26, of Edmonton, who is facing charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. His new trial date is still to be set. He is next scheduled for a private pre-trial meeting on Jan. 20.

Eight others have already been sentenced in the case: Soaring Eagle Whitstone, Danita Thomas, Shayla Orthner, Samuel Takakenew, Nikita Cook, Charles St. Savard, Brent Checkosis, and Mavis Takakenew.

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.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW