The Kathryn-Mary Herbert case — A mother’s heartbreak

Police announced Monday that charges of first degree murder have been laid against Garry Taylor Handlen, 67, of Ontario, in connection with the deaths of 12-year-old Monica Jack near Merritt in 1978, and of 11-year-old Kathryn-Mary Herbert in Abbotsford in 1975. At a press conference Monday in which the charges were announced, Shari Greer, Kathryn-Mary’s mother, made the following statement:

Thank you for being here today. This is a moment I have wanted to share for 39 years. Finally, it is here!!

I want to share a bit about my Kath with you. Kathryn-Mary was my only daughter. She was loving and kind and compassionate. After she died, I found a prayer she had written asking God to help a teacher who seemed to dislike most children. She said how nice the teacher really was and that she needed God to help her to show that. She was 10 years old when she wrote that.

Kath would come in from school and the first thing she would ask is if there was anything she could help me with. She pretty well always took her little brothers with her when she went out. I told her she didn’t have to do that. She said she liked to and she enjoyed being with them. She loved all of her brothers so much.

Kath could play anything by ear. If she heard something she liked she would sit down and play it. She was especially wonderful when she played The Sting. Kath also had a beautiful singing voice, unlike her mom, who, instead of bringing down the house, would empty it.

Her best friend Joanne, tried to find a recording they made of Kath singing, but, discovered it had been taped over. I remember her mom calling to tell me it was lost. I tried not to hear my heart break.

Every day, my daughter would put her arms around me and say “What are you doing down there shortie?” We’d laugh and she would hug me.

The sad thing is, I will never hear her sing or play. I will never hear her laugh, or, see her incredible smile. I will never feel her hugs which were always firm and followed by an “I love you.” I no longer get to do any of that.

I promised her at her grave side, I would never give up. I didn’t. I thought I failed her, I didn’t. I thank God for that. I thank Him that He loves me in spite of all my transgressions. I thank Him because He loves us all. Including Garry Taylor Handlen.

I want to thank the following people.

• My friend Fabian Brouwer, who listened to me rant over these many years and, actively participated in this case.

•Abbotsford, Police Chief, Bob Rich, for keeping a promise.

• The RCMP, E Division, Unsolved Homicide Unit. Gary Shinkaruk, Supervisor, Laura Livingston and her team, and, the very skilled interviewers.

• Former Abbotsford PO, Norm MacFarlane

• I especially want to thank Staff Sergeant, Paul Briggs, Abbotsford Police, who had to rebuild this case from scratch. Since 1995 he has listened to me and argued into his retirement and beyond, this investigation was not done and a promise by the police was not satisfied. Today it was.

• Kath’s friend Karin, who also worked behind the scenes.

• David Ridgen of CBC for the documentary.

• Mia Sheldon of Global TV for her 16×9 presentation.

• To those in the media who kept Kath’s case current news.

• Everyone else who kept this case in the public eye and on the front lines.

• Kath’s friend Karin, who also worked behind the scenes.

• And, to those in the media who put her case out there. To all who kept this case on the front lines.

I am sure I have forgotten many names here. But, will group it together saying, thank you all for your constant support for these 39 years.

Kath was deprived of achieving her dreams. She had many. To try and go on, you would be so tired of the sound of my voice, you would empty the room.

The consolation thing about this is, soon it will be over. But, my pain and the pain of every single family member in murder or otherwise death, will never go away.

There is only one thing I ask of the media. Please leave us alone. I have not yet wrapped my head around this as being real. To try and do interviews would be too hard. I just cannot wrap my brain around all of this. When it is over, I am going to have a well deserved breakdown. I will forever, hear my heart break.

Oh, and, by the way. There is no such thing as a cold case to the families. Nor, is there ever closure. Only resolution, surrounding the events.

Thank you all, again.