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The Times Advocate, 2008-10-29, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, October 29, 2008 Imeson faces families in court By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GODERICH Accused murderer Jesse Imeson showed little emotion on Mon- day as the details of his killings of Mount Carmel couple William and Helene Regier and Carlos Rivera of Windsor were read out. The court heard evidence from crown attorney Bob Morris and assistant crown attorney Jennifer Holmes on the three murders and the sub- sequent search for Imeson over a period of several days. Holmes told the court that Rivera was not known to Imeson before the two met at a bar in Windsor July 17 and subsequently went back to Rivera s home. Holmes said early the next morning, Imeson met his cousin Samantha and the two drove to the grave of Imeson s father, where the accused told her he had killed Rivera after waking up and finding the vic- tim performing fellatio on him. Imeson said he strangled Rivera with a belt and saw blood coming from his nose. After the killing, Imeson made stops at several businesses where he was recorded on video before driving to Grand Bend. Rivera s body was found in his rooming house by OPP with a belt twice around his neck. Imeson was considered the prime sus- pect. On July 18, Imeson was seen at several locations in Grand Bend, using Rivera s credit card to buy drinks. Imeson met local resident Lindsey Glavin, who spent several days with him and sup- plied him with water and a sleeping bag before dropping him off in a wooded area after finding out he was a suspect in the killing of Rivera. OPP were notified at 8:41 p.m. on July 20 that Imeson was possibly in the area and on July 21 notified the media that Imeson was a person of interest in the Rivera mur- der. They contained an area to conduct a search of Imeson s last known loca- tion in the Mt. Carmel / Parr Line / Ausable Line area but were un- able to locate Imeson, who had stolen a rifle from a neighbour- ing farm of the Regiers before con- cealing him- self in the Regier barn. The Regiers had left their residence at 4 p.m. on July 22 for a trip to London before returning home around 9:30 p.m. At 10 p.m. Imeson approached the Regi- er home and after trying to open the door, smashed the glass and proceeded to a sun room where Helene was alone and watch- ing television. Morris said Imeson took control of the Regiers and directed them downstairs where he tied them up with phone cord and clothesline. Morris said William was tied with his arms out before Helene was shot four times and William was shot three times. Imeson stole cash and identification as well and filled a suitcase with various sup- plies, although the suitcase was left behind when Imeson left the scene in the Regiers GMC Sierra pickup. On July 24 around noon, Dan Regier ap- proached the Regier home and after seeing the broken glass and the lights and televi- Helene and William Regier sion on, contacted the OPP at 1:20 p.m. At 1:47 p.m., OPP entered the home and found the bodies of the victims. A fingerprint was taken from a beer bot- tle at the scene and after being identified as belonging to Imeson, he was declared as the prime suspect in the killings. Imeson was captured in a wooded area near Ottawa on July 31. While being trans- ported, Imeson made the statement that the gay guy, I would do it again. On Aug. 10, Imeson was being transported to the Exeter OPP detachment with undercover officers riding in the vehicle with him. After the uniformed of- ficers exited the van, Ime- son told the undercover officers, the .22 calibre is a serious gun. One shot will kill you, I killed peo- ple with it. Following the evidence, victim statements for the Rivera family were read by Holmes, with a statement by Rivera s mother, Maria Elena Balcazar saying, I ve lived without hope and struggled to rebuild...I am a dif- ferent person with shattered nerves. Several members of the Regier fam- ily read statements, with Carol Denomy, daughter of Bill and Helene, saying that the couple, who met on a bus trip when they were 13, started on a 25 -acre farm be- fore purchasing the family farm and rais- ing their six children. Denomy said her parents lived their lives with purpose, and this year Bill was not in the field haying, which was his fa- vourite time of year. We miss their love and zest for life...our lives were shattered. We will never forget the sudden, violent and indefensible act. A part of us has been broken off and is gone forever. We go to work and carry on because that is what they would have done and would want us to do. Paul Regier, brother of William, said the generosity of the couple made their home a welcoming place. They looked evil in the eye, with a heart as cold as stone. They made the world a special place by being in it. Nicole Denomy, granddaughter of the Regiers, said the killings, had robbed the grandchildren of a carefree childhood... two of the most selfless people were taken by a selfish person. Speaking on behalf of the grandchildren, Kelli Rathwell said the family wouldn t judge Imeson because they didn t know him. You didn t listen to their pleas but we have listened to yours. In his closing remarks, Morris said the couple were well respected peo- ple who had their sanc- tuary violated and de- scribed it as a despicable act. Defence lawyer Don Crawford said Imeson didn t go to the Regier residence with the intention of kill- ing anyone, only to commit theft and get away. but that things happened in the Regier house that Crawford wouldn t go into. Crawford said Imeson was sorry and the guilty pleas had come early, which spared the families the anguish of testifying at the preliminary hearings and trials. Crawford noted that Imeson had given himself up although he had a rifle available and had considered the option of suicide by cop. Crawford said the recommended sen- tence was significant and there has been a savings to the justice system. Following the statements, Haines asked Imeson if he wished to make any state- ment. Imeson declined but had Crawford read a statement on his behalf, saying, I m very sorry. I wish I could turn back the clock and I apologize to the family and friends. I hope you can forgive me. I will pay for this forever. Carlos Rivera Committee to discuss Usborne Central's future By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF USBORNE The first public meeting to discuss the future of Usborne Central School was held Oct. 22 at the school, with the eventual closure of the school a possibility. About 25 people attended the meeting in the school s gym. Avon Maitland District School Board education director Chuck Reid began the meeting, intro- duced its purpose and noted the attendance at the meeting shows the board that local residents have a heavy investment in the school. Last week s meeting was the result of a report that saw Us - borne Central flagged due to de- clining enrolment over the past several years, enrolment that is projected to continue. With only 128 students enrolled this year, the school is at 55.5 per cent ca- pacity, both of which are trigger points the board uses to further investigate a school s future (the board uses 60 per cent capacity and 150 students as benchmarks for enrolment). As a result of the board s de- cision to look at Usborne, an Accommodation Review Com- mittee (ARC) has been formed for the school consisting of the school s parent council chairper- son Helen Kadey, community member Judith Parker, South Huron Deputy Mayor George Robertson, South Huron school board trustee Randy Wagler and Usborne principal Mike Stanley. Kadey, Parker and Robertson are the voting members of the com- mittee, which will make recom- mendations to the board at the end of the year. The board trust- ees will make the actual decision concerning Usborne s future. That decision should come in June. Board superintendent Mike Ash will chair the ARC meetings, with the next meeting planned for Nov 12 at the school at 7 p.m. One of the things learned at last week s first meeting of the ARC committee is that low enrol- ment is the main reason Usborne could be closed the condition of the 44 -year-old building is not a problem and while Usborne needs a new roof, the board has determined the costs of main- taining the school are not "pro- hibitive." School board chairperson Meg Westley said she was pleased to see so many at last week s meet- ing, although she conceded it was not a joyous occasion. She said those on the ARC have a tough job ahead of them and the process the board is go- ing through is mandat- ed under provincial guidelines. Throughout the review process, Westley said the board wants to ensure strong communication with the public. The ARC, she said, will deter- mine the value of Usborne Cen- tral to the students, the board and the community. After the board makes its decision on the school s future, a transition committee will be formed. The committee will have input into things such as what happens to the school s trophies and mas- cots if it closes. Whatever decision is made will likely be implemented for Sep- tember 2010. Addressing the situation the board is facing, Westley said there are simply too many emp- ty pupil places and half -empty schools that cost too much to keep open. That money, she said should go to students education, not to the half -empty buildings. Another ,11U10101�1010� ARC has „,100001101001 been formed 1111. no1o1100010100 010101101010100101 1 1 11 , 010101'0,�p100 00' Central Hu- ! ,or , Central Hu- • a 1� ' , c ron area of orth �1`0o�oolo�0000 o o of the board, which in- cludes schools in East Wawanosh, Hullett, Turn - berry, Blyth and Wingham. That committee also met last week in East Wawanosh. "One of the possible outcomes is that a school will close," West- ley said of the ARC meetings. In addition to closure, other possibilities for the school in- clude changes to boundaries or grades configurations. "We know you value the build- ing, of course you do," Westley said. In addition to a report from the ARC, the board will also receive a report from staff in March and make a decision at the end of May or in June. "What you want may not be what happens," Westley said to the Usborne group, but added everyone has the same goal to do what is best for the students. Wagler encouraged members of the public to attend future ARC meetings and stay involved. The entire process is public and the board will be posting informa- tion on its website. "We aren t going to do any of this behind closed doors," Ash said, adding there will be four ARC meetings at Usborne, with the committee having the option to host more if needed. During the public comment portion of the meeting, Huron Park s Lana Hiemstra urged the board to consider the emotional impact that closing Usborne will have on the students. She said students in Huron Park had "a terrible time" adjust- ing when McCurdy Public School was closed and noted children from Huron Park are now split among seven schools. "It impacts the community emotionally," Hiemstra said, adding in certain cases students are not accepted at their new See USBORNE page 3