Photo by Whitehorse Star
A LIFE TAKEN – Brandie Vittrekwa, 17, was found dead on a walking trail in Whitehorse’s McIntyre subdivision on the night of Dec. 8, 2014.
Police arrest suspect in teen’s death
A young person has been arrested in connection with the murder of Brandie Vittrekwa, the Yukon RCMP Major Crime Unit said this morning.
A young person has been arrested in connection with the murder of Brandie Vittrekwa, the Yukon RCMP Major Crime Unit said this morning.
The suspect was scheduled to appear in court this afternoon.
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, accused people under the age of 18 cannot be identified.
Vittrekwa, 17, was found dead on a walking trail in Whitehorse’s McIntyre subdivision on the night of Dec. 8, 2014.
A male youth was arrested Dec. 11, but no charges were laid against him at that time in relation to Vittrekwa’s death. He remained in custody on unrelated offences.
Cpl. Calista MacLeod would not say if the suspect arrested Tuesday is the same one arrested in December. Police must be careful to protect the identities of youth suspects, she said.
Yukon chief coroner Kirsten Macdonald said this morning that although an autopsy of Vittrekwa’s body and toxicology tests have been completed, results cannot be released while the criminal investigation is ongoing.
In a news release, RCMP thanked those who provided information that aided their investigation.
They ask anyone with further information about Vittrekwa’s death to contact them at 667-5555.
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Comments (10)
Up 20 Down 10
Josey Wales on May 4, 2015 at 9:56 am
Hmmm...."A male youth was arrested Dec. 11, but no charges were laid against him at that time in relation to Vittrekwa’s death. He remained in custody on unrelated offences."
....not bad just "15" and ALREADY has a trail of CCC violations, must be a stellar role model...or birthed by one?
A few weekends playing video games, a few historical whines/snivels, maybe a circle of oooooo scaaary chairs, a good stern talking to by elders?
All the while the CARNAGE continues, and very, very, very ENABLED by our legal system.
Up 53 Down 6
...and what is the aboriginal community doing to stop this cycle? on May 1, 2015 at 12:42 pm
Loretta Edzerza " Our First Nation youth have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, bullying, racism, neglect, abandonment, and are left very confused about family, friends, and community relationships."
...and what is the aboriginal community doing to stop this cycle?
Perhaps less should be spent on Chiefs, Councilors and their relations, and more on raising healthy children. This is predominately an aboriginal problem and THEY are the only ones who can fix it. More money won't solve it, they already get enough resources to address these problems, let's see some real leadership.
Up 48 Down 4
Policy critic on Apr 30, 2015 at 8:16 pm
I think the young offender act went too far, I agree that protecting kids from having some poor decisions follow them into adulthood is valid but by the time your in your early to mid teens things like murder should not be hidden from the public, stealing a car for a joy ride and you get caught and taught a lesson sure but murder? No.
Up 11 Down 42
Loretta Edzerza on Apr 30, 2015 at 4:43 pm
I think that it is very sad that our First Nation youth are killing one another and being killed by one another. It goes to show how much help we need as hurting people. A healthy young person would not have the heart to do this. This is only a sample of the many violent actions that are real in our communities. By some miracle we have to quit the judging and begin the healing. Our First Nation youth have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse, bullying, racism, neglect, abandonment, and are left very confused about family, friends, and community relationships.
Up 56 Down 2
Yukoner on Apr 30, 2015 at 2:19 pm
Why is it always we as a community have to do more .
Where the hell are the parents of this killer? Maybe until we quit hearing, we still have to heal and things like circle sentencing.
Up 25 Down 41
Jean Dacko on Apr 30, 2015 at 10:55 am
Two lives destroyed due to drug and alcohol abuse of our youth. We need as a community to do more.
Up 42 Down 12
Josey Wales on Apr 30, 2015 at 9:00 am
Great work M, now off to the kangaroo courts, more Y.O.A., highly probable Gladue gibberish.
Thank Justine's daddy and his team for BOTH, actually all three...the courts are infected with liberal racist values.
Sad thing is, after a few weekends playing video games, getting coached on victim hood IT will be out ready to re-offend and we THE community alleged to be served AND protected...will never be "certain" who the scumbag is.
I was at Brandy's service, I saw/felt the pain felt by family, friends and yes members of our community.
So now a lil' brat gets considerations and mega protection from the machine?
Lots of Trevor the human types up here, being molly coddled whilst the carnage continues.
What a country, thanks P.E.T. for doing your best at destroying justice, hugging thugs...and the destruction of Canada.
IMHO we've been in a race to the bottom since 1982...
R.I.P. Brandy
Up 77 Down 2
NorTH on Apr 29, 2015 at 11:51 pm
My daughter is a teenager who was close to Brandy. It has been a hard 4 months for her, she is having a hard time with this and as I write this, I hear her crying in her room. It takes her back to December, as it does for everyone in our house. She said, "I am fine, I don't want to talk to anyone tonight", but a piece of me hopes she crawls into bed with me later.
This suspect was "charged in connection" with Brandy's death... makes me think that there is more to the story. Are there other's connected to this? I hope the 15 year old suspect starts talking and finally tells the truth.
I hope he is detained and not allowed out in the public, a lot of youth are angry and still grieving, if they let him out before it goes to trial, I hope he stays very far away from people because a lot of youth are upset.
I know a lot of people are saying 'this poor 15 year old'.... I for one, am not there yet. I am sickened by this. I look at my daughter and I think this could have been her. I see how many other youth have been affected.
He needs to be locked up, out of sight and in there, maybe he will learn something about himself and realize that he can still breath and but she will never be able to again.
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north_of_60 on Apr 29, 2015 at 5:42 pm
Thomas is correct. People who are accused of serious crimes like murder should be tried as adults and identified. No more special treatment for race or age. Ninety percent of aboriginals murdered, are murdered by other aboriginals, usually by people they know. Odds are this one is the same.
Up 189 Down 11
Thomas Brewer on Apr 29, 2015 at 3:50 pm
Send this (alleged) murderer to adult court and release their name.
The protection of youth's names should not extend to serious crimes. That's something Harper should have worked on instead of his awful omnibus bills.