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Sisters of Sask. girl who mysteriously disappeared anxious for solutions as homicide trial nears | CBC Information


This case is the main target of the CBC investigative podcast, The Pit. Hear and subscribe to the podcast at cbc.ca/thepit.

A relentless wind moaned as Teaka White walked by way of the distant space the place her sister Sheree Fertuck was final identified to be. 

“We’re going into 12 months quantity six that she has been gone, in order that’s form of exhausting to consider already,” she mentioned. “Time stands nonetheless for nobody.”

White is feeling anxious — not about being within the gravel pit, however in regards to the upcoming homicide trial for her ex-brother in legislation Greg Fertuck. He is accused of killing Sheree, his estranged spouse. Police have by no means discovered her physique. 

The prolonged trial is predicted to start Monday in Courtroom of Queen’s Bench in Saskatoon.

Sheree hauled gravel for a dwelling and was final seen at a gravel pit close to Kenaston, Sask., on Dec. 7, 2015. The world, situated about 85 kilometres southwest of Saskatoon, feels prefer it’s in the course of nowhere. Her semi truck was left behind, alongside together with her keys, coat and cellphone.

It is exhausting for White to consider how the gravel pit has expanded. She hasn’t been there in years, since she final helped seek for Sheree, who was 51 when she disappeared. It is the place Sheree, who’s presumed useless, spent the final years of her life.

When Sheree first went lacking, individuals questioned if she had one way or the other turn into trapped beneath mounds of gravel. 

White was skeptical. 

“As you may see, the gravel piles do not actually collapse,” mentioned White, pulling her coat nearer and gazing up at a looming pile of earth.

“I believe at the moment they have been in all probability simply trying to find any form of solutions, any form of chance, simply because individuals simply do not disappear, proper?” 

Sheree Fertuck, 51, was final seen leaving her household’s farm east of Kenaston, Sask., on Dec. 7, 2015. (RCMP)

Police suspected Greg murdered Sheree in 2016, however years handed earlier than they arrested him. For Sheree’s household, the case felt chilly. 

They did not know on the time that Sasktchewan RCMP have been operating an elaborate undercover operation referred to as a Mr. Massive sting. It is a controversial tactic that has law enforcement officials play criminals and construct relationships with the suspect utilizing faux identities. 

The purpose is to acquire a confession, and police received one from Greg, who was charged with first-degree homicide in 2019.

The trial begins on Monday in entrance of a choose, not a jury. Testimony will reveal the lengths police went to with the intention to get info from Greg. 

White had a glimpse of that on the preliminary listening to.  She choked up as she mirrored on what she realized. 

“Kudos to them. These individuals put their coronary heart and soul into this, for one one who was murdered,” she mentioned. “It is unbelievable. It turns into overwhelming.” 

However Greg’s lawyer Morris Bodnar slammed the tactic in an interview with CBC Information. He mentioned the tactic produces false confessions.

The choose will decide how a lot proof from the sting the Crown can embody in its case.

Greg mentioned he informed an undercover officer that he “removed” Sheree and threw her within the bush however after his arrest. However in an interview with CBC Information in 2019, he mentioned he made that up as a result of he was scared.

Sheree’s two sisters Teaka and Michelle Kish reject that rationalization. Kish has thought of what might have occurred again and again. 

“You simply all the time consider any chance that will make any sense and certain, in fact, you undergo all these ‘what-ifs,'” she mentioned. “Nothing actually is smart contemplating their historical past, the previous him, how he’s, how he was towards her.”

The gravel pit space the place Sheree Fertuck used to work has grown since her disappearance. (Kendall Latimer/CBC)

Courtroom information doc two home incidents between Greg and Sheree. 

First, Sheree went to the Saskatoon police station and mentioned Greg threatened to kill her. Greg had allegedly been intoxicated on the time and wished his gun again from Sheree. When she refused, he informed her, “There’s one other gun, I will get it and put a bullet between your eyes.”

Fertuck together with her sister Michelle Kish in Kenaston. (Submitted by Michelle Kish)

He pleaded responsible to uttering a loss of life risk towards Sheree and to possessing a prohibited weapon.

The next 12 months, Greg pleaded responsible to assault towards Sheree for dragging her out of a room by her head throughout an argument, in addition to for gun fees, together with the possession of a prohibited firearm. That firearm was an Uzi.

The upcoming trial for Greg is predicted to final a number of weeks. His lawyer mentioned they’re searching for an acquittal. 

Kish cannot think about that chance. 

“If he’s nonetheless the identical individual he was and continues together with his ingesting and anger, I am a little bit bit fearful for what he would possibly do to any one among us that has voiced their opinion,” she mentioned.

White mentioned a jail cell would in all probability be “too good for him.” 

“Possibly that is harsh on my half however for what he has put all people by way of, particularly his children, possibly it isn’t harsh sufficient,” she mentioned. “Ideally I would like to see the loss of life penalty reinstated.… I do know one thing like that can by no means occur once more in our nation, but when he is discovered responsible, [I hope] that he spends the remainder of his life behind bars.”

White remembered trying to find Sheree years in the past. She felt a way of consolation returning to the pit — a spot the place Sheree and their late dad spent most of her time, with the household farm simply down the highway. 

In Sheree’s absence, her household continues to maneuver ahead. White mentioned Sheree missed assembly a brand new grandchild. She was additionally listed in her mom Juliann Sorotski’s obituary as “predeceased.”

Sorotski died of most cancers in 2018. She by no means gave up in search of solutions on what occurred to her firstborn daughter. 

Now it is as much as individuals like Kish and White to advocate for solutions. White mentioned the trial is one other step, however it nonetheless does not equate closure. The RCMP historic case unit confirms searches might begin up once more after springtime thaw. 

They wish to know the place Sheree is, they usually consider Greg has the solutions. 

“In any other case it is all the time going to be looming there, till I die. Each time they discover stays, you understand, might or not it’s her? Might it not be her?” White mentioned. “I do know that Sheree’s gone, however to present her a correct resting place and a correct burial can be closure for me.”


For extra on The Pit together with a 360 video expertise of the agricultural gravel pit the place Sheree disappeared go to cbc.ca/thepit. Hear and subscribe to the podcast right here.

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