Charges laid against 22-year-old following death of 2-year-old Alberta girl

(NEWS 1130)  The 22-year-old suspect in the deaths of a toddler from southwestern Alberta and her father has been charged with two counts of first degree murder.

RCMP are describing suspect Derek Saretsky as an acquaintance of Terry Blanchette, 27.

Terry was two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette’s father.

Hailey lived with her father in Blairmore, while her mother lived in Edmonton.

People in town are saying Saretsky was in a relationship with the mother of the child at one point.

Inspector Derek Williams says we shouldn’t expect them to confirm anything like that for some time.

“We’re still exploring those connections but at this point in time, they were known to each other, that’s about all we can say in terms of the investigative process.”

The same applies to details on where or how Hailey was found yesterday.

Mounties still want to hear from anyone who saw that white van involved in the Amber Alert.

They are confident they have the van in question but they still are trying to track its movements around the time the crime occurred.

Saretzky, who is from Blairmore, is to appear in Lethbridge court on Sept. 23.