Ten years later: Me, Rachelle and the Cold Case
I’ll never forget the phone call that changed my life forever: it announced Rachelle Wrathmall’s death, my best friend of 24 years. Her lifeless body was found in her Lennoxville residence, on June 29th, 2007. The evidence indicated that she suffered a violent death, in other words, she was murdered. I had lost my best friend to conjugal violence. Every inch of my body shook for 48 sleepless hours. I was unable to process the terrifying news: was I in a creepy nightmare? Or I was in a scary horror film? The reality was too painful to accept.
Then came the aftermath: the scenes played and replayed in my mind. I imagined Rachelle’s fear and how she must have fought back; how she must have suffered during her last moments; I became fearful: what would the murderer do next? Where was he hiding? Was he going to be caught? Surely he would get caught! Finally, sadness invaded my heart as I remembered her laughter, her positive energy, and her “joie de vivre”, and all our childhood memories as well as our dreams for the future. How dare he take all that away from her? How dare he take her away from us?
Losing a loved one is difficult to accept, but losing a loved one to a senseless, violent act is traumatic, because you know that someone deliberately decided to end that person’s life. Nobody deserves a violent death. Rachelle didn’t deserve this. To this day, it’s difficult to accept, knowing that he is still out there, living a comfortable and successful life as a free man, while he robbed Rachelle of her life and her dreams.
I wish I had good news or further developments to share on Rachelle’s murder, but sadly I don’t. It has already been ten years since Rachelle’s death, and nothing has changed since June 29, 2007. Rachelle’s murder is now a cold case (File number: SBK-070629-027). The Sureté du Québec is still searching for a very important witness: Raphiou Oumar Alpha Sow. Even though we know where he is, he still remains “untouchable” due to the limitation of the judicial system and other international issues. I know disillusionment and frustration too well, for I have lived with them for ten years.
We, her friends and family, will always remember Rachelle. We are still here and still wishing for closure and justice. Perhaps we are waiting for a miracle. I realize that nothing will bring Rachelle back; however, my hope is that Rachelle’s death has a bigger purpose in this life: to build awareness and prevent future victims of conjugal violence.
If justice doesn’t prevail, I hope that people will learn from Rachelle’s story. When a relationship doesn’t feel right, trust your instinct; listen to that inner voice that tells you something is off. Abusive relationships can end very badly. Trust me, these things don’t only happen to strangers on the evening news, or to women in foreign countries, or to fictional characters in Hollywood movies. Unfortunately, these things happen in real life, in our own homes, to our mothers, sisters and daughters, and even to our best friends. I know because it happened to my best friend. Rachelle, I will never forget you.
HELP & RESOURCES
CAVAC (Crime Victims Assistance Centre)
819 820-2822 info@cavacestrie.com http://www.cavac.qc.ca