Alyssa Lecain, a mother of a young girl, was among two women killed on Christmas Eve, 2021. (Submitted/ Marilyn Smith)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Sask. family prepares for next chapter with murder charges now laid in Christmas Eve murder case

Sep 14, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Editor’s note: This story contains graphic details that may be sensitive for some readers.

Marilyn Smith said news of charges being laid in her daughter’s death brings her some relief, but she’s also quick to note it signals the beginning of a possible lengthy legal process for the family.

The North Battleford woman is responding to the first degree murder charges laid against Wade Frenchman. Smith’s 25-year-old daughter Alyssa Lecaine, along with a second woman, 20-year-old Daphne Bear from Sweetgrass First Nation, were killed on Christmas Eve, 2021. Smith told battlefordsNOW she did not recognize the accused.

“I’ve never seen him before,” she said, adding it was also not the person she believed it would be.

The remains of the two young women were found after a house fire fire in North Battleford.

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A picture of the home where the bodies were found. (File photo/ battlefordsNOW Staff)

Smith explained that earlier that day the family had gathered for Christmas brunch and soon after, Alyssa, along with sister and grandmother, had gone out to Wal-Mart to pick up a last minute gift for Marilyn – a gag gift in response to comments Marilyn made about not having enough bowls.

On the way back to her mother’s house, Alyssa stopped at the house where she had previously been living with her boyfriend to pick up a bag for the gift. As she ran inside, Alyssa’s sister and grandmother waited outside. Time passed and growing anxious the grandmother went up to the door, only to be told Alyssa was not there.

“And they were thinking hey, we just seen her go in. We dropped her off here,” Marilyn said.

Soon after, Marilyn, who had been sleeping at her own home, was awoken by a phone and received the terrible news the house had blown up.

“I knew she was dead,” Marilyn recalled.

Marilyn said her daughter could light up any room. (Submitted/ Marilyn Smith)

Marilyn recalled Alyssa’s daughter, who was six at the time of the horrific fire, went running to the door, when her aunt returned and was screaming and demanding to know where her mother was. Now eight years old, Marilyn said the young girl is still dealing with the trauma.

“She understands what’s going on. She told me a couple months ago that monsters are real but they are not under the bed, they’re walking around outside and they’re people.”

Marilyn explained Alyssa and her daughter were very close, adding Alyssa was the fun mom who did all the crafts, collected rocks, loved animals, often attracting every stray animal in town. She also taught her daughter to find the good in everyone.

“She focused on the best and that was also her downfall because no matter how bad the person was or how mean, she found that one tiny little bit of good in them and she focused on that and that’s how she treated them as a person,” she said.

(Submitted/ Marilyn Smith)

When asked if Alyssa ever mentioned being in any sort of trouble, Marilyn replied no, explaining her daughter was not the type to talk about her personal problems, so not to worry her mother. And with another Christmas just over three months away, Marilyn acknowledged early feelings of dread.

“It was Alyssa’s favourite holiday and it’s like all it for me now is just dread and just memories,” she said.

Marilyn also expressed her thoughts go out to Daphne’s family, adding she feels what they going through right now as well.

During the course of their investigation, investigators obtained 15 judicial authorizations, interviewed approximately 160 witnesses, and gathered/processed more than 150 exhibits during the course of the investigation.

Frenchman was arrested at the Saskatchewan Provincial Correctional Centre, and is set to appear in a North Battleford courtroom on Sept. 20.

This is not the first time Frenchman has faced serious charges. In June, he was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 35-year-old Tyler Mooswa on the Moosomin First Nation. That case remains before the courts.

– with files from 650 CKOM

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell