By Bryan Eneas

Remembering Krista Kenny

Apr 15, 2017 | 12:00 PM

On May 2, 2009, Loretta Henderson’s life changed forever.

Her daughter, Krista Kenny became the first homicide of the year in Prince Albert. She was just 16-years-old.

Kenny was supposed to be going to the movies with friends; instead she ended up meeting more people which led to a night of drinking, Henderson said.

“I wish she never went to the movies that night,” Henderson said as she held a picture of her daughter during the Prince Albert Grand Council’s Family Support Day April 12.

Outside of the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre, Henderson reflected on who her daughter was as a person.

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“She was my only daughter,” Henderson said. “She was my angel, she was an awesome mom, an awesome daughter, sister. The best friend anybody could have – she was always there for them… she wanted to be a teacher. She was still going to school.”

Henderson said Kenny would “stick up for anyone,” and loved her daughter Shaniqua with all of her heart.

She said she’s healing by telling Kenny’s story, and called Shaniqua her “reason for getting up” every day. She’s taken care of Shaniqua since she was seven months old.

Now, Henderson said she’s been telling Shaniqua all about Kenny, and just how much Kenny loved her. Shaniqua, Henderson said, is sad she won’t ever get to meet her mother.

The years haven’t been easy on Henderson since the loss of her daughter.

“I’ve tried to get help, but I can’t. I don’t like the way the counsellors say they know, but they don’t know how it feels,” Henderson said, fighting back tears. “Doctor tried to put me on depression pills. I hate the feeling of it; it doesn’t work.”

Henderson said Kenny’s murderer earned a life sentence for his crime, but despite the sentence Henderson still suffers.

“It hurts every day, and the man that killed her, I only live two blocks away from the pen, and that’s where he lives,” Henderson said. “When I hear that siren it drives me crazy, all day, all night.”

Henderson attended the Family Day gathering because she was seeking an update into the murdered and missing indigenous women’s inquiry. She has a small network of friends who keep each other informed about the inquiry, but said she hasn’t actually heard from anyone directly involved with the process.

To continue on her healing journey, Henderson said she’s planning on participating in the national inquiry.

“I’d like to keep sharing Krista’s story. I don’t know how it will help – maybe it will help other families to speak out… because it helps, it helps me anyways.”

Henderson said she’s thankful for the work and support offered by the Prince Albert Grand Council Woman’s Commission. She said she first participated in a Brothers and Sisters memorial walk for missing and murdered indigenous peoples in 2011, and Kenny was first honoured during the walk in 2015.  

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas