As family and friends continue to grieve the tragic loss of Claire Leveque, a young 24-year old Westlock woman murdered in the Shetland Islands last month, a GoFundMe page has now been created to help bring Claire home.
As of press time the fundraiser has collected more than $1,500 in donations of a $15,000 goal, and shared that although the murder investigation is ongoing with the Scotland police, “the family is eager to bring Claire home and seek justice for this tragic loss.”
Clint Leveque and his late wife Kathleen raised their daughter Claire and son William in Westlock where they both attended Westlock Elementary School and R.F. Staples School.
“We lived in Westlock Claire’s entire life. She was born in Westlock,” said Leveque, in a phone interview from Winnipeg. “Her mom and I raised her and she lost her mom, my wife, five years ago to breast cancer in Westlock as well.”
Leveque, who moved to Winnipeg in 2022, noted the close family connection to the town and some of the many cherished memories he has in the 20-plus years he and the family were in Westlock.
“Her grandma worked as a school teacher for 20 years in Westlock too. Lilly Ann Knight was my wife’s mother,” he added.
While the family continues to grieve, Leveque said he is taking things “day by day” and spoke about the outpouring of support he has received from friends, family and Westlock residents, many who knew Claire and the family when they lived here.
“It’s an absolutely great feeling. It’s a tight (knit) community and very, very supportive,” he said, noting it’s been a very difficult past few weeks, especially with him and family being so far away from Shetland.
“The situation has been really tough, with this tragedy happening with my daughter,” said Leveque, adding that investigators have not released Claire’s body because “they’re needing her for evidence on the (defence) side.”
“I find it very unfair that they can’t send her to me because it’s been weeks now and it’s very frustrating,” said Leveque, adding that not having his daughter cremated and returned home “really hurts.”
“This is not what she would want right now. She would not agree with this,” he said.
The GoFundMe page will not only help bring Claire home to Canada but will help Clint fly to Shetland in the coming months to attend court proceedings and eventually see justice for his daughter. The accused, 39-year old Aren Pearson has been charged with her murder and remains in custody.
“He deserves first degree murder as far as I’m concerned. I won’t accept anything less, I won’t,” said Leveque. “I want that more than anything. I can at least do that for her, get that (justice) for her. I can’t get her back but I can make sure justice is served (to) what it should be,” said Leveque.
While the family continues to wait for answers, they are focused on their number one priority right now, to bring Claire back home to Canada.
“It’s crucial it happens,” said Leveque. “I need her back.”
