By Spencer Sterritt

Napope family heartbroken and relieved to see charges laid

Mar 14, 2016 | 12:34 PM

Going to court is hard for nearly everyone, but it was particularly difficult for the family of Troy Napope, the Prince Albert man who has been declared missing since June 2015.

His accused murderer made his first appearance at Prince Albert Provincial Court Monday morning, March 14. Braidy Chase Vermette, 27, faces first degree murder charges.

“It’s been emotional and there’s been relief,” Napope’s sister Christie said. “Our family is upset and sad about this. It’s heartbreaking and unbelievable but we’re going to remain strong.”

After a lengthy investigation, RCMP Major Crime Unit North and the Prince Albert Police Service laid charges against Vermette. Napope’s family found out about the charges last night.

“We’ve had a lot of sleepless nights, and I slept good last night knowing we’re going to get my cousin back and him to rest,” Napope’s cousin Annie said.

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The family said the hardest part was waiting for charges to be laid when they were confident who Napope’s killer was. “We all knew who it was,” Annie said. “It seemed like we weren’t getting justice. Everyone knew who did it but he wasn’t getting charges laid on him. That was the hardest thing…didn’t seem fair at all.”

The family knew Vermette. Christie said Vermette would come around the house, but stopped after Napope disappeared. “We all figured it out,” she said. “We just didn’t know how, but now we know.”

RCMP told paNOW they don’t have Napope’s body, but the family said RCMP knows where the body is.

“They know where Troy’s body is,” his grandmother Linda Napope said. “They said it’s going to take up to two weeks for the snow to melt. They didn’t tell us specifically where the body is, but they do know. I can’t wait to get him out of there and to have a proper burial for him.”

In January this year, RCMP investigated a patch of forest north of Prince Albert on Whitfield Road, where Napope’s burned car had been found.

In February, RCMP asked residents within a 10km radius west of the Saskatchewan Federal Penitentiary to search their property.

Napope leaves behind a son. According to Annie, Napope’s son is wondering where his father is. “It’s happy news that he’ll know the story about his dad. He deserves that at least.”

Vermette was remanded into custody. His next appearance is April 4, 10 a.m. at the Prince Albert Provincial Court.

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterritt