By Tyler Marr

Family pleads for information in death of Jordan Ballantyne

Aug 14, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Calls of “justice for Jordan” echoed along Sixth Ave. as a warm sun snuck behind Prince Albert’s horizon Monday night, while drivers passing by honked in support.

“I’m glad it didn’t rain,” Ann Merasty said as she led a group of about 20 in a slow stride down the busy corridor. The group hoisted neon-coloured signs bearing images of Jordan Ballantyne, the 42-year-old man whose death is being investigated as a homicide by Prince Albert police.

Police and paramedics were called to a yard near the intersection of Sixth Ave. and 20 St. E at 9:07 p.m. July 13, where Ballantyne was discovered dead at the scene. Investigators categorized the death as suspicious soon after, and an autopsy conducted July 16 determined Ballantyne was murdered. 

Monday night started with a reciting of the Lord’s Prayer at a home near where Ballantyne was found. Merasty and the group stood in a large circle, smudged, and lit a candle at the base of a tree before setting off. She said the gathering was organized to mark one month since Ballantyne’s death, in order to remember and mourn the man and to call for anyone with information to come forward.

Though Ballantyne was Merasty’s cousin, she said he was essentially a brother as the two were raised together by their grandparents.

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“He got along with everybody. Even though he lived on the streets he had a lot of family, but he was fighting his addictions,” she said. “Even with what little he had, he was very generous. He liked to share with his friends and family. He was a really kind-hearted person … I don’t know who would do this to him.”

Merasty said she hoped the impromptu vigil would help obtain answers in an investigation she said was yielding few leads.

“If anybody knows anything, come out and tell the police,” she pleaded. “Even though it has been a month, we are still really heartbroken and we are hoping we can find some answers so we can be in peace.”

A spokesperson for the Prince Albert Police Service said the department would not comment as the investigation remains ongoing.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr