Grieving parents without answers
Family of John Wifladt says police still haven't told them how son died
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 16, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The parents of the victim of what RCMP called a homicide in Yellowknife last month say they are upset and disappointed over the lack of information on their son's death.
It's been more than a month now since John Wifladt died in Stanton Territorial Hospital after being found severely injured and unconscious in a unit at the Sunridge Place Apartments back on Dec. 14.
The man who rented the apartment, Colin Digness, was also discovered badly injured in the unit. He was medevaced to Edmonton with an apparent eye injury.
Police have not said whether he is still in hospital or give an update on his condition. Digness's brother Louis Mandeville said back in December that his brother was listed in stable condition in hospital.
Wifladt's mother Alice Wilfladt, who lives in Ndilo, said she is upset that police haven't shared more information on her son's death with her.
"It's been so long now since this has happened. All I hear is rumours," she said. "The last time I called RCMP they told me that the lead investigating officer was on holidays. It just seems like someone who hurt two people is out there, happy that he did what he wanted to do."
The mother said she and her family are still in pain.
"I'm not being kept in the loop. I don't know what they are doing. It's a small town but (police) seem to be taking their sweet time," she said.
At the time of the incident, John Wifladt's brother Tommy Wifladt said he'd been told by two different people, one of them a nurse, that there had been a sword fight in the Digness apartment. Tommy told Yellowknifer that he had heard someone who lives at Sunridge Place had found the two men unconscious in the blood-soaked apartment.
"They told me that either one or two swords were found in the same room as the men," Tommy Wifladt told Yellowknifer.
RCMP have never said whether swords or any other weapons were found at the scene. Police have never officially identified either the victim nor said where they were found. Police have said they are investigating Wifladt's death as a homicide, but they have not said whether they believe a suspect or suspects are still at large.
Wifladt's father Jack Wifladt, who lives in Devon, near Edmonton, said he still doesn't know how his son died.
"I spoke to one of the investigators this past Monday but he wouldn't tell me much other than they are still investigating," he said.
"He said that they have some evidence and some persons of interest but he didn't say much else. If they think they know who is responsible then why don't they have them in custody? It seems like people know more on Facebook than the police do."
When told by Yellowknifer that RCMP have never said whether they are actively looking for a suspect, Wifladt responded: "It may be that they want to make sure they have the right person before they say something. But I can tell you that my family is not very good. My daughter particularly has not taken this very well. It hasn't been easy on myself. I haven't been sleeping well since this happened. Somehow or another we need to have some closure."
RCMP Const. Elenore Sturko said police sympathize with both families.
"We know the Wifladt family is distraught and want answers," said Sturko. "We have tried to contact the mother on occasion without success. We encourage her to give us a call."
Some information gathered during the investigation has to be protected for the integrity of the investigation and for future court proceedings, Sturko said.
"When we can release more information, we will," said Sturko.
"We are doing a professional and thorough investigation and we're trying to solve the case and get the answers for the family that they deserve to have. I can tell you that no charges have been laid in the case but we are not prepared to release any information on a suspect or suspects at this time."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact RCMP.
