However, there were several homicides in Brandon a couple of years ago, and two of the cases made national headlines. One was the Erin Chorney murder. The body of Chorney was found in early 2004; the teen had been first reported missing two years earlier. Her ex-boyfriend, Michael Bridges, was convicted of murdering her after an elaborate police sting operation. (Winnipeg Free Press crime reporter, Mike McIntyre, has written a best-selling book about it: To the Grave: Inside a Spectacular RCMP Sting.)
Another case was the Joubert murders. Respected elderly retired physicians, Noel and Doreen Joubert, were murdered by their son, Paul, in September, 2004. He was arrested after a cross-country chase, and later committed suicide awaiting a court-ordered mental health assessment, before he could be brought to trial.
There was yet another homicide around the same time; one that sometimes doesn’t even make the local news. Diana Rattlesnake was killed in October, 2004. At the time of her death, she was an employee at the recycling facility where I was the General Manager. Her killer has still not been found. The conventional media have an obligation to report accurately about her death, especially since reporting on the event actually could help bring her killer to justice. (And here is where the Internet can help to keep alive the stories that otherwise might fade away. Or not be generally available, for example, the Brandon Sun makes its content available only to its paid subscribers.)
The following is a “Letter to the Editor” from me that was published in the Brandon Sun on February 10, 2007:
Remember Rattlesnake
There was someone missing from the front page story about Brandon’s latest homicide in the February 6 Brandon Sun. “Yesterday’s death marks the first homicide investigation in Brandon in more than two years,” the article noted. Then there was a recap of the Joubert and Chorney murders.
But there was another homicide in Brandon during the same period — one that is still not solved.
Diana Rattlesnake was killed on October 28, 2004. An aboriginal woman, she lived and died in modest circumstances. Her death did not bring to Brandon the national publicity of the other cases mentioned. Perhaps such reasons make it possible to overlook her death.
Diana Rattlesnake lived, worked, and died as a member of our community. She should be remembered by the media. She should be remembered by the public as well. Someone might remember something that could bring justice to this case. Furthermore, remembering those who have been killed might help to prevent other homicides in the future.
As someone who knew her, I ask the media and the community to please remember Diana Rattlesnake.
But there was another homicide in Brandon during the same period — one that is still not solved.
Diana Rattlesnake was killed on October 28, 2004. An aboriginal woman, she lived and died in modest circumstances. Her death did not bring to Brandon the national publicity of the other cases mentioned. Perhaps such reasons make it possible to overlook her death.
Diana Rattlesnake lived, worked, and died as a member of our community. She should be remembered by the media. She should be remembered by the public as well. Someone might remember something that could bring justice to this case. Furthermore, remembering those who have been killed might help to prevent other homicides in the future.
As someone who knew her, I ask the media and the community to please remember Diana Rattlesnake.
No comments:
Post a Comment