A Nova Scotia group that supports at-risk women and girls is apologizing after it hosted a panel discussion on violence that featured a woman convicted in the brutal killing of a teenager.
Marissa Shephard was listed as a panel member for the event last week organized by the Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia.
The panel was titled “Navigating the Legal System and Community Supports After Violence, Victimization, and Loss.” It was the second of three panels supported through the Logan Alexandra Russell Fund, which was created in memory of a Cape Breton woman who was killed in an act of intimate partner violence.
“The fund honours Logan’s beautiful life and loving, empathetic nature, while also striving to protect others from the violence that caused her death by contributing to intimate partner violence prevention efforts,” a website for the event reads.
In 2021, Shephard was sentenced to 12 years in jail after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter and arson in the death of 18-year-old Baylee Wylie, who was stabbed 200 times.
Russell’s mother posted a message on social media saying the family was not made aware of the decision to include Shephard on the panel, and apologized to Wylie’s family.
“I am beyond disappointed and heartbroken that they would use Logan’s legacy in connection with someone like her,” Maureen MacTaggart wrote.
Wylie’s body was found in Shephard’s burned out townhouse in Moncton, N.B., in December 2015.
Shephard was one of three people sentenced in connection with Wylie’s killing.
Devin Morningstar was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2016, while Tyler Noel pleaded guilty in May 2017 to second-degree murder and arson with disregard for human life, and both received life sentences.
Parole board imposes strict conditions on Marissa Shephard’s release from prison
Marissa Shephard pleads guilty to manslaughter, arson
The Nova Scotia chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society issued a public statement Monday night saying it made a serious mistake while planning the event.
“Our work asks us to consider everyone who may be affected by violence, and above all, to do no further harm. With this event, our actions did not reflect that, and we have harmed those we support,” reads the statement.
The non-profit group said in an email they would not be taking part in media interviews at this time.
“Our staff have received repeated threats of violence, and our priority right now is the safety of our team and the people we support, and respect for families who are grieving,” reads the emailed statement sent Tuesday afternoon.
According to court documents, Wylie, Shephard and the two other young men gathered at her home for “some drug-fuelled excitement” that ended tragically with Wylie being tied to a chair, beaten and stabbed repeatedly with a variety of weapons.
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