Five charged in Laverdiere’s death appear in court

By Angela Brown and Tyler Marr

Carol Laverdiere said her daughter Tiki was just trying to be there for Nicole Cook at her son Tristen Cook-Buckle’s funeral when “something terrible happened.”

Carol made those comments outside of court Friday after five people — including Cook — charged in connection with Tiki’s death appeared. The courtroom gallery was a sea of red shirts with images of Tiki and Ashley Morin, who has been missing for more than a year.

Cook, 36, is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. The Edmonton woman was arrested on Wednesday in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.

Jesse Sangster, 23, was arrested Saturday in Edmonton. He is facing charges for accessory after the fact to murder and theft of a motor vehicle.

Both made their first appearance Friday morning and were remanded into custody. They’re to return to court on Aug. 30.

Carol told reporters it was an emotional experience for her to see the suspects in court.

“They are a bunch of punks and cowards,” she said. “How dare they do this to an innocent beautiful young woman.”

Carol said she didn’t recognize any of the suspects except for Cook. She said seeing Cook facing charges is difficult.

“I was boiling; I was mad,” Carol said. “How else would I feel to see somebody that took away my baby?”

Carol said Tiki didn’t know anyone from the Battlefords and came to the area with Cook to support her at her son’s funeral.

Shayla Orthner and Danita Thomas, who are charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle, made their second court appearance later Friday morning. They were the first two arrested in the case earlier in July.

Both were remanded into custody and are to return to court on Sept. 6 via closed-circuit television from Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert.

Legal aid is working to find representation for Orthner.

Brent Checkosis, 18, is facing charges for accessory after the fact to murder, improperly interfering with a human body and theft of a motor vehicle. He appeared via CCTV from Saskatoon and was remanded until Sept. 6.

With five already facing charges and the possibility others could as well, Carol couldn’t make sense of the situation that took Tiki’s life away.

“I can’t fathom this,” she said of why so many are facing charges in the death of her “innocent, big-hearted, beautiful daughter.”

“I can’t understand it.”

Laverdiere was last seen in North Battleford on April 29 and was reported missing on May 12. Human remains were found in a rural area outside of the city on July 11 and confirmed to be those of the Edmonton woman on July 17.