Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP say that on Aug. 30 at 12:17 p.m. the major crimes unit South, arrested a 17 year old male in connection with the Feb. 19, homicide of local, Kyle Daniels, 21.
According to Cpl. Rob King, from RCMP's F Division media relations, a charge of second degree murder and robbery was laid in relation to the homicide.
"The youth made his first appearance in Regina youth court last Wednesday but cannot be named under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act," said Cpl. King.
The charge has come more than six months after the tragic death of Daniels was reported.
Daniels, who was born and raised in Burns Lake, had travelled to Fort Qu’Appelle to visit with his father in December 2010, and had been there for a month and a half.
On the night of Feb. 19, 2011, Daniels reportedly went out to the bar to have a goodbye drink with his brother [who lives in Fort Qu'Appelle with Kyle's father].
According to Violet Abraham, Daniels mother, he had planned to return to Burns Lake the next day. "He had a bus ticket on him and was supposed to be back in Burns Lake on Feb. 21." Abraham said he had asked her to top up his cell phone with $50 the previous day. "He called me soon after on his cell phone and said 'thank you mommy, I love you' ...... those were his last words to me."
"We know they left the bar at 2:30 a.m. and that Kyle's body was found at 3:30 a.m.," said stepfather William Findlay.
There had been unconfirmed reports earlier this year that Daniels died from multiple stab wounds and that a knife thought to be the murder weapon was later found two blocks away from the scene, however Fort Qu'Appelle RCMP neither confirmed or denied the reports.
A memorial service was held for Daniels in Burns Lake on Feb. 27, and his burial was held the next day.
A memorial powwow attended by more than 700 people was also held in Burns Lake on July 2.
"This arrest has reopened a lot of wounds that haven't yet healed. It still hurts a lot," said Abraham.
She said that while the arrest has provided a little bit of closure to the family, it is going to take some time for her to recover from the sadness of losing her son.
His bedroom is as he left it and Abraham said she has not washed a couple of his T-shirts.
"I go in to his room and visit with him. It is hard to live in our house .... Kyle was born and raised there."
She also said her son comes to her in her dreams and tells her he is in a good place and to let go and concentrate on the family.
"I love him so much."
According to Abraham a private investigator with the Fort Qu’Appelle RCMP called the family last week to inform them of the arrest. "We weren't told any details, just that they had made an arrest."
"The investigator said it will take some time for the trial date to be set. It could be anywhere from six months to two years."
She said she hopes the justice system does not let him walk away from the crime.
"The Abraham family believes in leaving justice in God's hands, but we hope that justice is served to the full extent. This person took away the life of someone that we loved so much," she said.
Daniels girlfriend Alexandria LeFleur, 17, is also finding it very difficult to cope with the loss of her boyfriend.
"She is living with us and we plan to enroll her in school this year. Kyle told us to take care of her and we are doing that. She lost a baby at around the same time as Kyle's death so it is a lot for her to cope with," Abraham said.
The arrest is just one step on the road to closure for the family and friends of Daniels.
Findlay said there will be a Kyle Daniels Memorial Powwow held every year in Burns Lake for four years.
"This is honouring the four directions, north, east, south and west .... like the four corners of the medicine wheel," he said.
"There is a lot of anger still. We had two grief councillors attend a family meeting last week. We don't want anyone to think about revenge, violence is not the answer. There is so much violence in the world today," Findlay said.