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Vol. 13, No. 15, Wednesday February 7, 2018 www.LamontLeader.com
EI Youth Ranch teen facing attempted murder charge - final decision expected March 23 Victim forever damaged - can’t believe light sentence for first youth’s guilty plea KERRY ANDERSON After his trial wrapped up in December, one of the teens charged with attempted murder of an Elk Island Child and Youth Ranch (EICYR) worker will have a decision brought down tentatively on March 23. On Feb. 5, 63-year-old youth worker Heather Vanderzee was brutally attacked by two youths (14 and 15 years of age) who were living at the ranch. Just after 1:00 am when EMTs arrived, they determined the victim’s injuries were so bad that they called STARS air ambulance and lifted her to Lamont Hospital. Vanderzee was stablized, treated and eventually released. She has ongoing facial injuries and permanent brain damage, not even being able to even remember the attack. The two under-aged teens fled the scene and were later captured. Both had long histories of criminal behaviour and were well known to police. Neither name can be released due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Both have been tried separately. Originally charged with attempted murder, among other crimes, one of the teens pled guilty to
lesser charges of robbery and two counts of breaching a youth sentence. He was sentenced to 303 days in custody (time served) plus probation for nine months. He had a previous history of violence against workers at EICYR and testified against the other teen at his December trial. During testimony, he said he was rummaging through the ranch office for keys to a truck and looking for money so the two could get away. Meanwhile he said the other teen was brutally beating Vanderzee and he could hear the thumps. He reportedly said he had never seen that much blood. Contrarily, the other teen testified that he did nothing and actually tried to give Vanderzee CPR after the other teen attacked her. He added that he was forced into the stolen vehicle and the other teen threatened the same would happen to him if he said anything. Vanderzee said she was disappointed by the first verdict handed down, and awaits the second verdict. A former resident of the Elk Island Youth Ranch said he was not surprised by the attack. While there he said it was pretty typical of kids to get into fist
fights and be disrespectful to staff; adding these youth are sometimes involved in gangs and violence because they are mostly raised in abusive situations or abandoned by parents. Another former employee said she quit because of safety issues due to a lack of security. There appears to be a high rate of staff turnover, due to these security issues, she added. The Province recently changed the Youth Ranch to “conditional status,” meaning the province will have more direct control of the daily operation. The Youth Ranch has stated that it has increased staffing and is working with Occupational Health and Safety and Children’s Services to review this tragedy so that it never happens again. The Elk Island Child and Youth Ranch promotes itself as an intensive treatment program under the Child, Youth enhancement Act from the ages 10-24 years old. It began operation in the year 2000, and claims many success stories by satisfying many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of its youth.
Fort Saskatchewan RCMP release results of Lamont Esso death investigation - still don’t tell public what happened KERRY ANDERSON After weeks of investigation into an “altercation” which happened at Lamont Esso on Jan. 6 leading to a man’s death, Fort Saskatchewan RCMP have concluded that no charges will be laid. According to their Feb. 5 news release, RCMP say “Investigators from the RCMP’s Serious Crimes Branch (SCB) and the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP Detachment conducted a thorough investigation into
a verbal altercation involving two men at the Esso station in Lamont. “A comprehensive review of the file by RCMP investigators, as well as by the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service, has determined that criminal charges will not be laid in this matter. The police investigation into allegations of criminal conduct in this case has been concluded.” Due to the police refusing to say what reportedly
happened and asked Esso employees to do the same, nobody is officially aware of what took place. Yet Staff Sgt. Mike McCauley (acting Fort Saskatchewan RMCP Commander) said: “... It is a lesson for us all that even a verbal argument can have dire consequences... Our hearts go out to the victim's family who have lost someone dear to them." “Additional information will not be provided at this time by the RCMP,” said the statement.