It was three years ago today that the senseless murder of Charles (Jim) Williams occurred at a Walmart in south Red Deer. I actually visited the scene of the crime on Boxing Day, but here's what I wrote on the following Christmas Eve as we started getting some details:
In the aftermath as we learn more, from the Red Deer RCMP deliberately lying about the shooting to try and discredit (accurate, it turns out) reports being shared on social media to the entirely predictable discovery that the savage killer was in fact a Red Indian, we are still left with a few "why"s, as the official "robbery goes wrong" seems odd.
Well in the summer of 2022 the murder trial got underway for the Red Indian savage in question, one Chase Freed. Freed pleaded not guilty but during jury selection changed his plea to guilty after which he was sentenced to a laughable ten years (he'll likely serve less than five).
As a result of this not going to trial, not having the circumstances of the incident laid out in a court case, it means we'll never have all of the answers, including why Freed chose Williams out of all the potential victims leaving a Walmart just before Christmas. Indeed William's purchase was a measly stick of deodorant, hardly the sort of high value target that a thief would want to waste his energy on. With his sawed off shotgun and mask (oh, the innocence of December 2021) Freed was clearly out to get himself a big haul.
Again, I was confused until I saw some video footage and the pieces started falling into place. Here's what I believe to be the likely scenario:
Freed was there to commit robbery, likely by watching people taking stuff back to their vehicle and then following them out. Since it's the Red Deer South Power Centre he was possibly looking for somebody who would drop off bags and then proceed to Five Guys or Reitman's and leave their (locked) vehicle unattended. The weapon was likely intended (at least in the pre-planning phase) to only be brought out if required. A scuzzy Red Indian up to no good would easily draw the ire of other people, and the feel of all those unfriendly eyes who knew what kind of punk he was but just didn't know how far he would go must have put him on edge. Williams probably was the latest in a long line of such eyes, and his own physical abnormality would have been an easy target for Freed to lash out at in return. Williams at this point would have reacted: harshly or patronizingly wouldn't have been unfair replies and either could set Freed off even more. While Williams is shopping Freed's hate festers and instead of moving onto his targets he instead thinks of some good responses to Williams (who may have come up with some good material on his own). The second confrontation goes much more aggressive than the first, and Freed reaches for that hidden weapon.
Thanks to both assailants pleading guilty, this remains a fairly plausible and certainly balanced-by-the-facts scenario. The media certainly didn't feel like digging into Freed's motives very strongly, as they and Red Deer RCMP were busy trying to coverup the fact that Chase Freed is a higher profile of what all rural prairie folks know to be 99% of criminals: Red Indians who are quick to play on judicial sympathy for their woe-is-me causes. Just look what happened during Freed's sentencing hearing:
Prosecutor Dominique Mathurin took Freed’s age into account — along with his upbringing in a dysfunctional, violent and drug-filled home in Prince Albert, Sask., — when she agreed to the 10-year parole ineligibility period
Red Indian gets slap on the wrist for violence and drugs which allows more children to be raised in violent drug dens where they are themselves eligible for a future slap on the write etc. etc. etc. The same Toronto Star article (titled "Remove the hate") does leave some hints that Jim Williams was selected because Freed thought his face -- disfigured years earlier in a propane accident -- was ugly:
Granddaughter Melissa Brunette told the court that she lost the one strong male role model in her life.
“I just want to know why. I hope this young man has also learned a lesson from all this and has a chance to remove the hate from his heart. I hope for his own healing in the process,” she said.
Williams’ son Billyjack, speaking on behalf of other family members, said his father was kind and generous and recovered from a severe propane explosion and accident many years ago.
“Never did we think that Jim would be taken from us by a gunshot wound by a thief. Chase Freed, you have ended the life of a generous man who already had so much taken from him. Your greed, your disregard for human life and your actions will have to sit with you for the rest of your life, which you are lucky to have.”
Freed certainly isn't providing us with a clear motive:
"I never meant for things to turn out like that. He’s a good man — I know that. I just can’t explain why I did this. Everybody’s hurting, right? Honestly all I can do is take responsibility for my actions,"
We can try asking his getaway driver Crystal Maurice:
Crystal Lee Maurice, 32, was scheduled to have a two-day preliminary hearing in Red Deer provincial court Dec. 16-17. However, she waived her right to a preliminary hearing on Dec. 16, and pleaded guilty to two of four counts against her.
Maurice was sentenced to six months in jail for theft of a motor vehicle. Court heard Thursday that theft took place the day before the shooting. Maurice admitted to stealing the vehicle of an acquaintance who was trying to help her on Dec. 19, 2019.
That sentence, however, was satisfied by 180 days of time already spent behind bars after Judge Bert Skinner gave her one and a half times credit for time served.
That would be the black SUV that they used during the robbery. Apparently the red pickup they later stole and were driving at the time they were apprehended was attributed to Freed, and it was one of the charges that got him his whopping 10 years behind bars. (Some accounts claim both vehicles were being driven at the time)
Again, because she ultimately entered a guilty plea the court didn't hear any of the police investigation outcomes, and therefore here's all the wealth of information she's given us about the incident:
For those readers who aren't keeping score, she never had to spend another day in jail due to "time served" while waiting on trial.
Maurice was also given a 12-month Conditional Sentence Order (CSO), and 12 month driving prohibition, followed by 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to failing to stop while being pursued by a police officer. Both the CSO and probation contain a long list of conditions for Maurice to adhere to, including house arrest for the first three months, a curfew, and having no contact with her co-accused (Chase Freed), among others.
Two other counts against Maurice, including accessory after the fact to murder, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, were withdrawn.
It seems like however much the justice system loves coddling Red Indian men who commit violent crimes, they love coddling their squaws even more:
Prior to sentencing, defence lawyer Andrew Phypers noted Maurice’s addiction to methamphetamine at the time of the incident, but highlighted her rehabilitation efforts since then and her recent graduation from the RESET program in Calgary.
According to the organization’s website, RESET provides immediate and safe supportive housing, allowing women to stabilize and begin the process of healing. It also supports each woman’s progress through transitional housing to independent living as the women graduate through the organization’s EXIT Program.
Phypers says the mother of five who now lives in Rocky Mountain House, is currently a house mom and peer mentor for other women in the RESET program.
So for well over a year now a woman who stole a vehicle to facilitate violent armed robbery and then watched her (presumed) boyfriend murder a man in cold blood only to help him escape and work with him on evading capture has been a "peer mentor" and "house mom". We already know from her relationship with a guy 12 years her junior that she's got screwed up maternal instincts and now we're making it worse?
Oh, one other little bit of postscript, a little minor thing nothing to get too worked up about, but Freed was another savage Red Indian from Saskatchewan already given a free pass by the justice system.
Less than a year prior to the incident, Freed had moved to Red Deer from Prince Albert as part of release conditions from a previous charge.
Sleep well tonight, fellow Albertans. And be ready to defend yourself with loaded firearms always kept at the ready.
