Harvey Beatty, 22, was found deceased Dec. 16, 2021, in Regina's Greenberg park neighbourhood. (River Park Funeral Home)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

‘I couldn’t even recognize him in his coffin’: mother pleads for answers in son’s death

Mar 1, 2022 | 2:12 PM

Just over two months have passed since Sally Sewap’s son was murdered in Regina, and she has many questions.

Harvey Beatty was 22-years-old and according to Sewap, had completed a 90 day jail sentence about a week before his death.

“Why the hell did they drop him off in Regina? That’s what we don’t understand. We have a lot of questions about that,” she said.

Three people have now been charged in connection to Beatty’s death. The most recent arrest, Natrone Moran, made his first court appearance late last week.

Sewap acknowledged her son had been an active gang member, but added he had also expressed to his loved ones, a desire to make a positive change.

Court

Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon

10h ago

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

13h ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

21h ago

“I guess he wanted to leave the gang life and get a fresh start somewhere else,” she said.

Beatty’s funeral was held on Dec. 25 at Deschambault Lake.

“I couldn’t even recognize him in his coffin. I didn’t think that was him. We said that wasn’t him,” Sewap said.

Harvey Beatty may have been looking for a way out. (Submitted photo/ Sally Sewap)

Recalling how her son loved to joke around, make people laugh, and was also a talented rapper, Sewap also revealed Beatty was not her biological son.

Beatty was born in La Ronge, Sewap, who worked for Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Child and Family Services, explained how Beatty’s mother had come to her and asked if she could take care of him.

“His other four siblings were already in care and he was next so she asked can you take care of my boy until he’s school age. I agreed with her verbally,” she said. “And she said you can name the baby.”

Sewap explained she found about her son’s death through her daughter who had been contacted by police.

“I was in shock and just recently I’ve been dealing with the grief finally hitting me,” she said.

—

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell