In the summer of 2019, the burned and bludgeoned body of 25-year-old Tiki Laverdiere, a mother of two, was found wrapped in a carpet under rocks in a Saskatchewan pond. This tragic event launched a five-year investigation that uncovered a story of suspicion, drugs, booze, and revenge, culminating in one night of torture. Ten people were eventually convicted in relation to her death, with the final cases recently concluding in court. The brutal nature of the crime helped investigators gather information as individuals involved became more willing to cooperate to avoid severe consequences.
The killing of Laverdiere was influenced by the events that occurred three weeks earlier in Edmonton when her friend Tristen Cook-Buckle was killed. His death, which involved being beaten, stabbed, shot in the head, and set on fire, deeply affected his family, including his mother Nicole Cook. Suspicions arose as to what Laverdiere knew about Cook-Buckle’s death, leading to allegations that she was involved, and this sparked a chain of events that ultimately resulted in her tragic demise. The involvement of Soaring Eagle Whitstone, a relative and head of a street gang, played a significant role in the unfolding events.
Court documents revealed a chilling account of the events that transpired leading up to Laverdiere’s death. Whitstone, along with gang members, brutally assaulted Laverdiere, believing she had information about Cook-Buckle’s death. She endured physical abuse, including being punched, tied to a chair, beaten with a metal pipe, and set on fire. Despite her pleas for mercy, the violence persisted, culminating in her death. Her body was wrapped in a carpet, placed in a stolen truck, and disposed of in a pond. The heinous nature of the crime shocked investigators and the community, leading to the eventual convictions of those involved.
After Laverdiere was reported missing by her mother, police suspicions were raised when Cook took to social media to help in the search efforts. A month after her disappearance, Laverdiere’s body was discovered in the pond, wearing the same black sweatshirt she had been seen in a photo with Cook. The extent of her injuries, including broken ribs, puncture wounds, burns, and other signs of torture, painted a grim picture of the brutality she had endured. Cook and Whitstone were among those convicted in connection to her death, with Cook receiving a lesser sentence and Whitstone being sentenced to life in prison.
Laverdiere’s family expressed that they will never have true closure and her two sons will never feel the embrace of their mother again. The impact of her death on her loved ones was immeasurable, and the family expressed their devastation through a statement provided by the RCMP. Cook-Buckle’s murder remains unsolved, leaving lingering questions about his death. Drugs played a significant role in the tragic events, along with suspicions and the violent nature of those involved. The heinous act was driven by a desire for vengeance, leading to a brutal and senseless crime that shocked the community and law enforcement.
Despite the convictions in Laverdiere’s case, the unanswered questions surrounding Cook-Buckle’s murder and the horrific circumstances of her death highlight the devastating impact of violence and revenge in this tragic story. The community and law enforcement were left reeling from the savagery of the crime and the lengths to which individuals went to exact their revenge. As the final court cases concluded, the details of the case shed light on the darkness that can consume individuals and lead to such disturbing acts of violence. The legacy of Tiki Laverdiere lives on in the hearts of her family, who continue to grapple with the profound loss and the absence of a mother figure in the lives of her children.
