|
|
|
Former resident mourned in wake of murder |
|
|
Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
|
|
Sunday, 20 July 2008 |
A former area resident, Dawn O’Donald, was laid to rest this weekend in northern Alberta after the young mother was murdered last weekend in a shocking knife attack.
O’Donald, 30, spend most of the last 10 years living in Mackenzie, Prince George and Tumbler Ridge with her then-husband James Thomas McIntyre, 32.
McIntyre is now charged with her killing in the small town of Wembley, located just west of Grande Prairie.
Mounties arrested him on July 12 soon after her fatally stabbed body was discovered on the street at 10:45 p.m. in front of the home she shared with their three young girls.
“She was super caring, super generous and headstrong to the end,” said former Prince George resident Derich Seidl, a cousin.
“She had more strength of personality than nearly any woman I’ve ever met. She was the kind of person who would pick up strays, always trying to help people in need. She was a super mom, too. Nevada, her oldest, is the smartest eight-year-old I’ve ever seen. Nevada tries to teach her twin four-year-old sisters (Cheyenne and Teslin) how to count; it is amazing to see.”
The girls are now in the care of Alberta social services officials while custody is sorted out.
“My aunt, the kids’ grandparents, are asking to take them. It looks like James’ parents might also put in an application, so that’s up in the air,” Seidl said.
The allegation against McIntyre is that he attacked O’Donald during a prearranged meeting to discuss future custody arrangements for the girls since he and she had recently separated. Court proceedings are now underway in Edmonton.
McIntyre was studying at CNC to be an electrician when he and O’Donald were living in Prince George at the home of Seidl’s parents.
The couple maintained a house in Mackenzie during the two years they set up temporary base in P.G., and moved back there once it was over. Eventually, they relocated to Tumbler Ridge, then O’Donald left with the girls for her original hometown of Wembley about a year ago.
Seidl thanked the entire community of Wembley for extraordinary kindness and understanding towards their family in the days since the attack, the kind of violent event the small town was unaccustomed to.
A service was held Saturday in Grande Prairie for friends and family to gather and honour her life. A Facebook group, In Memory of Dawn O’Donald, has been established where many of her loved ones and acquaintances have posted notes of remembrance.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 20 July 2008 )
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
I was Dawns best friend for 22 years, and I can say without a doubt that her children have never been under the care of social services after her tragic death. Threy are currently residing with thier loving maternal grandmother Gail O'Donald. I would have thought that more research would have been done before this story was published to ensure accuracy before it was published. If someone could make a note about the inaccuracy and post it it would be greatly appreciated by Dawns family and friends during this difficult time. Thank you/