Well it’s been seven years since Teagan was murdered by Lisa Batstone and the trial is still not settled. The appeal was heard last spring and still we wait. It’s hard to imagine that the system never allows families to settle…the trauma is constant and by the time the case is settled…then the killers sentence is almost up.
No words…just frustration.
There are so many sad stories that you can’t get through a week without multiple jaw-dropping moments where children are being abused. In one 24 hour period a few years ago I remember reading about an online predator who tormented young girls online (leading beautiful Amanda Todd to end her life), a police officer who caged and tortured his son in his basement and a child being removed from a loving foster home of 9 years. That is all without making any effort to find those stories…and you could find a similar set of tragedies this month.
As I was thinking about how tragic it has become it dawned on me, part of the problem is ironically the volume. These tragic events are happening so often that before the public actually absorbs the horror they are exposed to another story. This leads to a couple of very bad outcomes – 1) no single story really gets dealt with before its “upstaged” by the next and 2) we become numb to be shocked by children’s safety being violated. The first story is very sad for the victims and justice while the second belies huge societal problems that we see manifesting itself around the globe.
Rather than belabour the obvious point I would have one “ask” for everyone who reads this post. Would you be willing to do one thing to support children’s safety in 2021? It could be as simple as asking a child you think might be at risk if they are OK, a call to your elected official, a donation to a non-profit that you believe in, attending a charity event, promoting the UN Convention on Children’s Rights or even writing an op-ed to your favourite paper.
If every single adult did just one thing in the next 3 months how much farther ahead might we be? That would be millions of actions! So please consider thinking about and doing just one thing in 2021.
Given the attention that naturally occurs during this phase of the legal process I wanted to remind people about the goals of the ‘not-for profit’ we founded after our daughters death in December of 2014. For those not familiar with the story the link below summarizes the murder conviction in the killing of our 8 year old daughter Teagan (sentencing occurred this week).
Teagan’s Murder Press Coverage
Our mission is to serve Canada’s youngest, most vulnerable, and at-risk citizens, by enacting preventative measures to prioritize the rights’ of children to live, grow, and be nurtured and respected in protective and loving home environments regardless of family status, gender, ethnicity or income. We have a collective national responsibility to provide children with a safe home and to support children who are at risk.
Our priorities include :
I) National visibility, priority and oversight of the UN Rights of a Child Convention. This included the appointment of Federal Children’s Advocate and the adoptions of a Canadian Children’s Charter.
II) Using our education, knowledge and first-hand experience to actively participate in legislative and policy reforms.
III) To preserve the memory of Teagan Batstone who was a special little girl who touched many in life and even more in death.
We are often asked “What can I do? Here are six suggestions for you to consider :
1. Call Politicians – demand a Children’s advocate and share your opinions on the sentencing and parole of child killers.
2. Make Sure Kids Know Their Rights – take the time to learn about and promote the UN Rights of a Child Convention.
3. Donate to Children’s Rights Advocates like UNICEF, Children First Canada or Teagan’s Voice.
4. Report & Document Abuse – if you see it report it! To the police, children advocate or whomever in a position of responsibility you feel comfortable with.
5. Hold Political Candidates Accountable – ask the tough questions and make children right an issue every time you talk to them or when they call you!
6. Speak Up for Kids – we need to talk about it at home, work, school, online and in public. Keeping kids safe is not a taboo topic.
RIP TEAGAN
In some ways the impact of this crime is quite simple – seven decades of beautiful Teagan’s life. None of the significant life events you dream about including graduating elementary school, birthdays, high school, holidays, university or college, marriage, grandchildren, vacations and so much more will ever happen. Though what haunts you most days is the far more mundane losses of trips to the park, quiet cuddles, comforting hugs, grocery shopping and frankly just being with Teagan anywhere anytime.
In other ways the impact is so deep, tangential and complex that words could never do it justice. For me the worst pain is seeing the two people Teagan loved most (her brothers) suffer such profound grief – sadness, confusion, shame, guilt, anger, embarrassment, and sorrow. It makes me angry because I know that this would upset Teagan even more than her own death. The first questions that they asked shortly after her murder and many times since offer a glimpse into their shattered innocence and raw emotional pain :
The life of a happy, empathetic, funny, caring, innocent, athletic, sensitive and loving child was taken for no reason. Of course the victims are not limited to our immediate family but in reality everyone who had the joy of meeting Teagan and those who now will never get the chance. Her innocent classmates, relatives, teachers, neighbors and of course friends. Often forgotten are the first responders, investigators, coroner, lawyers, and judges. I have witnessed first-hand some of the pain and trauma they suffer as they dutifully worked towards justice for Teagan, so the systems that failed her in life did not fail her in death. I owe them a debt of gratitude I can never repay.
Losing Teagan has been a personal 9\11 – nothing in life can ever be the same and none of it is for the better. There can be no joy without pain, no holiday without sorrow, no event without regret and no day without sadness. I am blessed to have an amazingly strong, loving and supportive wife and children without whom none of my perceived strength would be possible. I generate my will, fortitude and persistence for them through Teagan’s voice always in my heart. We talk about Teagan every day and she remains an integral part of our family but the harsh reality she literally died at the hands of her mother takes an emotional and physical toll on each and every one of us.
Often not seen is that the slowness of the criminal justice process and the possibilities of appeals and hearings is very hard on the entire family as you are brought back to the trauma repeatably. Four years later here I stand reliving the worst day of my life, away from my family and job, days before Father’s Day. The verdict was the day before Teagan’s Step-Mom’s birthday and the trial itself within days of the day she was murdered. Given the nature of the crime and what occurred before and after Teagan’s death cause fear for the safety of our immediate and extended family.
Perhaps the easiest way to convey the impact of the Teagan’s murder is to ask a person to imagine something they would not endure in exchange for the life of their child? There is nothing….no amount of loss or pain a person would not sacrifice to save their child’s life. They would suffer torture, give up an arm or eyesight, quit a job, pay any ransom and certainly exchange their own life for hers. Why would you do this? Because all of that pales in comparison to the pain of having your child murdered. Seventy years of life, love and family simply vanished.
Sitting in a courtroom after over two hours of heart wrenching, gruesome and depressing details the Judge uttered the words many of us had been waiting for since December of 2014 – “Guilty of 2nd Degree Murder”. Those words came after sitting on the edge of our seats listening to the specific details of Teagan’s last few days alive and then the summary of the prosecution and defense cases. After a break the Judge outlined in detail her analysis and the related case law to support her conclusion. It was emotional, tiring and enraging in equal doses! Of course there were supporters of the murderer sitting only meters away and the media just behind us.
Once sentencing is complete we may share some of the details many of which has been published by the media. It is fair to say that the details leave no doubt about the evil intent and actions that stole a beautiful child from this world. How you can kill an 8 year girl in cold blood is beyond me and Teagan deserved so much more.
Although this was a significant moment in the horrifying ordeal it’s far from the end of the process. The date to set the sentencing date is still weeks away and the sentencing itself is still months away. There is also the reality that in Canada a life sentence is not really “life”. The good news is Lisa Batstone will forever be a convicted murderer but the reality is she could still walk free in as soon as 6 years (after reducing time served). The minimum parole eligibility is 10 years and the maximum is 25 years. In all likelihood it will lie somewhere in between at say 15 years.
I would be remiss not to thank the Prosecution for their dedication to the task and the Judge for her thorough and considered verdict. Another chapter is this tragic saga is complete but if far from over and none of it will bring our sweet Teagan home.
Teagan's Voice