Frances Merasty seeks closure, following the death of her son Jordan Ballantyne in 2018. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Unsolved cases

‘I don’t know who would kill my son’: third annual Justice for Jordan walk held in Prince Albert

Jul 14, 2021 | 12:00 PM

Frances Merasty says when she last spoke with her son a week before his death, he was happy, fooling around and showed no signs anything was wrong.

Three years have now passed since Jordan Ballantyne’s lifeless body was found in a yard near the intersection of Sixth Ave. and 20 St. E. Investigators soon categorized the death as suspicious and an autopsy conducted three days later determined the 42-year-old was murdered.

“I’ve got so much anger and always lonely,” Merasty said. “It’s really hard for me to wake up in the morning.”

On Tuesday night, Merasty joined over a dozen other family members during an annual awareness walk. Carrying brightly coloured signs and pictures of Ballantyne, the group walked from Kinsmen Park to the location where Ballantyne’s body was found. They then joined hands, said a prayer, and walked back to the park where they had a feast.

“I couldn’t make it last year or the year before because I had so much anger in me. I don’t know who would kill my son,” Merasty explained.

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Family members walk through Kinsmen Park. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Printed sweaters, bearing Ballantyne’s face, were prepared for Tuesday’s walk. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

Reflecting back on good memories of her son, Merasty smiled when she discussed how much he loved to visit with and take care of his young nieces.

“He was a really good guy. He wasn’t violent or anything like that and always took care of his friends on the street. Whatever he had he would share with them,” she said.

Clifford Merasty is the youngest of Ballantyne’s three brothers. He also expressed how good of a brother Ballantyne was, always making time for family and friends.

‘He was out in the streets but he liked helping out people,” he said.

Merasty embraces her grandchild. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

When paNOW reached out to the Prince Albert Police Service for comment, they replied with a statement indicating the investigation is ongoing and they continue to ask the public for information.

Anyone with information about Ballantyne, no matter how small the detail, can call 306-953-4222 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell