Murder in Barrhead. The words sound like a contradiction in terms.
They conflict with our idea of this community – a place that is safe and caring, a place where people look out for each other and are more likely to smile and reach out than scowl and raise a fist. A place where people can walk the streets at night without fear of being robbed or mugged.
Violent crime is something we associate with the big cities, not Barrhead, where couples come to raise children and seniors can enjoy their retirement in peace.
And yet something terrible did happen here. As most people will be aware the missing persons mystery of 45-year-old Valentine Degenhardt has turned into a suspected murder case.
It is believed the slaying occurred in our community. Three Barrhead people will now be appearing in court, one of them charged with first degree murder.
Amid the palpable sense of shock, it is important to keep a sense of proportion. Violent crime is a rarity in Barrhead, with the category of murder containing very few cases over the years. In fact, it is thought the last occurrence was in 1976, the shooting death of 17-year-old Marjorie Tiemstra.
Crime in Barrhead is often confined to a small group of people well known to the RCMP. While we shouldn’t prejudge the court case over Degenhardt’s death, it does seem that a drugs lifestyle may be relevant to the tragedy. It also seems germane that the accused are known to the police.
That said, our thoughts and prayers as we enter the Christmas season should be with the loved ones of Val Degenhardt. As Mayor Gerry St. Pierre pointed out last week, they should also be with loved ones of the three accused.
