By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles on Twitter

Saretzky trial focuses on campsite where toddler’s remains found (WARNING: Story contains graphic content)

Jun 20, 2017 | 5:32 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The campsite where two-year old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette’s remains were recovered in September of 2015, was the focus of day 10 in the Derek Saretzky triple murder trial.

Saretzky is accused of first degree murder for the deaths of Hailey, her 27-year old father, Terry Blanchette, and 69-year old Hanne Meketech. He also faces a single charge of committing an indignity to a human body in regard to Hailey.

Sgt. David Westin, a member of the RCMP Forensic Identification Section, took the stand Tuesday morning (June 20), explaining that he was responsible for taking photos of the campsite along Grassy Mountain Road, near Blairmore.

Upon arriving at the scene on Sept. 15, 2015, Sgt. Westin took a number of photos, before the fire pit where Hailey’s remains were found was covered by a tent, protecting the site from the weather and media helicopters overhead.

He noted that smoke was still coming from the pit, and that he burned his hands trying to extinguish the fire with as little water as possible, in an effort to protect any potential evidence.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 9-15, 2024

Dec 10, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 2-8, 2024

Dec 02, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: November 12-17, 2024

Nov 12, 2024

Sgt. Westin and other officers then began using a screen to sift through the ashes, a process that he said took about three days, and involved digging through six inches of ash and debris.

Photos were then shown to the jury of the items pulled from the fire pit. They included a hatchet, a knife, a utility knife, pages from a book, and a significant number of bone and tooth fragments. While the fire made it impossible to match the DNA for the bones and teeth, a forensic anthropologist determined they belonged to a child between the ages of two and four.

“Looked to me like tool marks,” said Sgt. Westin of a close-up photo that showed straight lines on one of the bones. That observation was also made by the medical examiner who testified on Monday (June 19).

It was after viewing a number of photos of the toddler’s bones, that the jury needed a break.

Photos of the scene at night were then put on display, with Sgt. Westin explaining that they had to wait until dark to use a chemical called BlueStar, which causes a blue glow when it comes in contact with blood. A glow could be seen on a toy and the ground near the fire pit.

The Crown also asked Sgt. Westin to discuss a pot that was photographed at the scene, which he said had a “visible red stain on it.” Four red spots on the pot were swabbed for DNA, and as noted in the Agreed Statement of Facts in the case, they were a match for Hailey’s blood.

Cst. Christopher Girard also testified on Tuesday, explaining how police first came to learn about the campsite, even before Saretzky took them there for a re-enactment.

He explained that after arriving in the Crowsnest Pass to help with the investigation, he was approached by Shane Koinberg, Saretzky’s cousin, who said he had found “something weird” at his campsite.

Koinberg’s mother, Carmellia Saretzky, owned the campsite they called “the ranch” along with her two sisters.

After informing other officers, Girard accompanied Koinberg to the site, where he noted a bone sticking out of the fire pit.

Before releasing the jury for the day, Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou informed them they are hoping to finish presenting their case on Wednesday (June 21), and that one of their final witnesses will be Hailey’s mother, Cheyenne Dunbar.

—

Saretzky murder trial – Day Nine (June 19)

Saretzky murder trial – Day Eight (June 16)