Family members of Derek Saretzky, the man charged in connection to the murder of a young girl and her father in Blairmore, Alberta, confirm he has been transported to hospital following an undisclosed incident Wednesday morning.
The Saretzky family does not know if Derek's injuries are the result of an attack or a suicide attempt. Saretzky's condition has not been confirmed.
Michelle Davio with Alberta Justice confirms an injured inmate in medical distress was located by guards at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre late Wednesday morning but would not confirm the inmate's name. Davio says the inmate was transported to local hospital.
Saretzky, 22, has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of committing an indignity to a body in connection to the deaths of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father Terry Blanchette
Saretzky had been scheduled to appear via CCTV for court proceedings on Wednesday from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre but he did not appear because of a reported legal issue involving his counsel.
Saretzky has hired Peter Northcott, an Edmonton lawyer, to represent him.
The 22-year-old was arrested after Terry Blanchette, 27, was found dead inside his Blairmore home on September 14. Blanchette’s two-year-old daughter Hailey was abducted from the home which led police on an exhaustive search.
Hailey's remains were found in a wooded area near the home of Carmellia Saretzky, Derek's aunt, in Crowsnest Pass.
Carmellia Saretzky says her family is as confused as anyone by the events of the past few weeks.
"We're victims too," said Carmellia in an interview with CTV Lethbridge. "We are waiting for answers and we really don't have answers."
According to Carmellia, the Saretzky family has received death threats since Derek was identified and charged in connection to the Blairmore deaths. She hopes the public outrage towards her family will subside as Derek faces his charges in the court system.
“We just ask people to stop spreading hate towards Derek, towards us, towards anybody in any situation because it doesn’t help," said Carmellia. "Spreading hate only hurts you, it doesn’t hurt that person and Derek doesn’t see that.”
“I’m his auntie. I don’t not love him because this happened, I’m confused with what’s happened.”
Saretzky's case has been adjourned until September 30.
With files from CTV's Kaella Carr