The judge-alone trial for a 30 year old Shayla Orthner, facing charges of first degree murder, kidnapping, improperly interfering with a human body and vehicle theft, begins today (Wed) at North Battleford Queen’s Bench. This is in connection to the RCMP investigation into the death of Tiki Brook-Lyn Laverdiere of Edmonton who was reported missing in May of 2019 after traveling to the North Battleford area in April for a funeral.

Two months later, a police dog found the 25 year old woman’s remains in a rural area outside of that city and now ten people have been charged in connection to this investigation.

Earlier this month Danita Thomas was found guilty of manslaughter, after originally being charged with first degree murder, and also of improperly interfering with human remains, and vehicle theft. She will be sentenced June 24th.

In 2020, Brent Checkosis was sentenced to seven years on charges of accessory after the fact to murder and Mavis Takakenew was given 18 months for the same charge. January of last year, Charles St. Savard was sentenced to just under 15 months in jail for kidnapping with intent to unlawfully confine.

Later in 2021, Nikita Cook was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years and Samuel Takakenew pleaded guilty to accessory to murder and was sentenced to time served. Nicole Cook, Jesse Sangster and Soaring Eagle Whitstone have trial dates between now and March of 2023.