This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive.

Derek Saretzky's Sister-In-Law Issues Emotional Plea

"My heart is in a million pieces right now."

The sister-in-law of Derek Saretzky has spoken out, pleading that people have some compassion for her family.

Shannon Saretsky, who spells her name differently than her brother-in-law, left an emotion plea on Facebook Wednesday night, asking for the public's understanding of the shock and grief affecting her family.

"[Y]ou have to understand that this is extremely shocking to us and is killing us inside too because he really was never a bad guy," wrote Saretsky. "It's so hard to see the things people are saying when you can't even wrap your head around how something like this could happen, how something like this has been done by someone you know on a personal level."

"My heart is in a million pieces right now."

I'm not defending anything by any means but I feel like this is something I really need to say. My heart is in a million...

Posted by Shannon Saretsky on Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Derek Saretzky, 22, is accused of first-degree murder in the Blairmore, Alta. deaths of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father Terry Blanchette. He also faces one count of committing an indignity to a body. He was charged with the crimes Wednesday morning.

An Amber Alert was issued after the girl was abducted from her father's home around 3:30 a.m. MT Monday.

Her father's body was found around 11 a.m. Monday, and the Amber Alert was called off when Hailey's body was discovered late Tuesday in a rural area near Blairmore.

Police said Saretzky and Blanchette were acquaintances, but Cheyenne Dunbar, the girl's mother, told reporters she didn't know how they knew one another.

Dunbar said Saretzky is an old friend of hers, but that they haven't spoken in years.

Also on HuffPost

Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette

Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette

Close
This HuffPost Canada page is maintained as part of an online archive. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.