Two-year-old Hayley Dunbar-Blanchette was found dead on Tuesday in Blairmore, Alberta, bringing an end to the search started after she was taken from her father’s home on Monday morning. The father, Terry Blanchette, 27, was also murdered.
Police have taken Derek Saretzky into custody and charged him with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of committing an indignity to a body. Saretzky was friends with both Blanchette and Hayley’s mother, Cheyenne Dunbar. Dunbar claims to have once been close with Saretzky but lost touch with him in recent years. Police say Sarentzky’s actions were premeditated.
Dunbar also said that Blanchette was a great father who would do anything for his daughter, and she did not understand why anyone would want to hurt her family. She described Hayley as a perfect child who did not often cry and was a joy to be around.
Blanchette and Dunbar had not been a couple for some time but maintained a friendly relationship in order to focus on their child. The pair lived in different cities, but often communicated through text and photos.
Police are continuing the investigation by collecting evidence both at the Blanchette house and the area where Hayley’s body was found.