FERGUS – Thanksgiving has been a painful affair for the Shortreed family since the death of Lucas Shortreed 14 years ago.
But this year looked a little different.
Community members gathered to remember Shortreed on the anniversary of his death Monday afternoon, sharing hugs and favourite memories of the late teen during an open house at Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home.
The 18-year-old Fergus teen was killed in a hit and run on a rural road while walking from a party on Oct. 10, 2008.
Police were unable to locate the car or the driver, until this year: On Sept. 21, Wellington County OPP located the car on Sideroad 21 in Mapleton Township, arresting and charging David and Anastasia Haliburton.
“It was a very shocking day,” said Shortreed’s sister, Jenneen Marie.
Now, she’s feeling mixed emotions.
“There’s a bit of peace of mind that I have some more of the puzzle pieces, but then there’s a real grief around the time – it’s been 14 years. And the events that have taken place in that time, maybe might have been easier had we had the information that we have now.”
She said she held onto hope for about 10 years that those responsible would be caught, but after that, she “did give up hope. I decided I was going to pack it away. Not move on, but not give it so much energy.”
When the news broke, Marie said they had “an enormous amount of outpouring from the local community, just reaching out to say how sorry they were, but happy for our family to have some answers now.”
“Our family has not had any positive Thanksgiving’s for the last 14 years,” Marie said. “So we just felt, with the timing of the news, and it being Thanksgiving, that it would be a good opportunity to bring the community together,” to thank everyone for their moral support and their contribution to raising awareness about the case.
“Then also just as a form of healing, where we can get together and have hugs and talk, and really express our feelings.”
Shortreed’s grandfather, Gerry, echoed that sentiment, saying that it was a celebration “to thank the people who backed us all this time,” and that to see everyone come together like this was “gratifying.”
