Facebook post an apparent confession in B.C. deaths
Father posts regrets on Facebook after triple murder-suicide
Two years ago, Emily Janzen belted out Nat King Cole’s Orange-Colored Sky backed by her high school jazz band with all the confidence and personality of a young woman determined to see her name in lights one day.
Things did not go as planned. Over the next two years, Janzen, who turned 19 in February, was in almost constant pain from migraine headaches. Continuing her career became impossible, as did going to school or hanging out with friends.
Her Twitter account details a growing sense of helplessness and frustration, punctuated by occasional bursts of gratitude and optimism. Her mother Laurel’s Twitter account details a similar ordeal.
Emily Janzen is now dead and the charred remains of the Janzen family home east of Chilliwack, B.C., were a crime scene Friday, its occupants presumed dead at the hands of Randy Janzen, Emily’s father, who is believed to have also murdered his sister elsewhere before committing suicide.
Emily’s father confessed in a Facebook post to shooting his daughter because she suffered from terrible migraines and depression that caused her great pain.
He goes on to say that he then shot his wife Laurel because “a mother should never have (to) hear the news her baby has died.”
He writes that he has “great remorse” for his actions, and that his family is in heaven and pain free. He also alludes to shooting his sister Shelly because he “did not want her to have to live with this shame” that he “caused all alone.”
“Over the last 10 days I have done some of the worst things I could have ever imagined a person doing,” the post says. “I took a gun and shot her in the head and now she is migraine free and floating in the clouds on a sunny afternoon, her long beautiful brown hair flowing in the breeze, a true angel.”
It remains unknown whether Randy Janzen was in the home when it burned down overnight.
According to his post, Emily had been plagued with migraines since elementary school, and they caused her to miss two years at the University of British Columbia, which he writes, “broke her heart.” He said he did not want to see his “little girl hurt for one more second.”
The post ends with “Rest in peace my little family Love Daddio xoxo.”
Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, RCMP learned that a man had confessed on social media to murdering family members, Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokeswoman Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said at a news conference Friday.
RCMP went to a home in Langley, the residence of Randy’s sister Shelly Janzen, where they found one body. Documents from the land title office list Shelly Janzen’s occupation as a pet groomer in 2010. Officers then arrived at a home in the 10000-block of Llanberis Way in Rosedale, east of Chilliwack, and tried to contact a man inside the house.
“And then they started shooting, I don’t know if it was inside or outside (the house),” Ashton said.
Neighbour Bernie Denhertog and his wife Jenny were relaxing in their home when they heard two bangs. Ten minutes later, the police were at their door, telling them they had to leave because a house was on fire. “When we went out the house was one big flame,” Denhertog said.
Ashton said four hours after police arrived, the residence caught fire and was quickly engulfed in flames.
“This investigation is extremely complex involving two crime scenes and potentially multiple victims. At this time, IHIT believes that this incident is not random and the suspect and victims were related to each other,” said Ashton. She did not release the identities of the deceased.
Emily Janzen’s Twitter account makes frequent references to being in pain and being in the hospital. “Whenever I start to feel sorry for myself, I just thank God I’m still alive,” Janzen tweeted April 24. “I complain about all the pain, but at least I’m here to feel it.”
Another tweet from a few days earlier reads: “I’m so tired of people making me feel guilty for being too sick to hang out. Do you think I want to sit at home or in the hospital all day? NO”
The Twitter account of Laurel Janzen, Emily’s mother, also makes frequent references to migraines and people who suffer from chronic pain.
“Watching someone I love in unbearable pain for 18 months and I feel helpless,” she wrote March 9, mentioning Fraser Health in the tweet.
A tribute to Emily Janzen was posted on Facebook by the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts on Friday and a memorial Facebook page had been set up.
“Today we celebrate the incomparable Emily Janzen. A former student and instructor, forever a part of our CSOPA family,” the post read.
“We will fondly remember her bright smile, beautiful voice and amazing spirit. She will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to all her family and friends.”