Manslaughter charge laid in death of Kaleden teen

Nearly 14 months after her 17year-old son died of a suspected drug overdose, a Kaleden mom is hopeful a manslaughter charge laid this week will finally shed light on what happened.

Kiera Bourque, 21, is accused of accidentally killing Devon Blackmore on April 2, 2017.

The manslaughter charge was sworn Monday. She was arrested Tuesday and subsequently released on bail pending her next court appearance June 20.

“Nothing will bring Devon back, but absolutely we want (Bourque) to face up to what she did that weekend,” his mom, Lorrie Blackmore, said Wednesday.

At the time of his death, Devon was two months shy of graduating from Penticton Secondary School and considering a career as a psychiatric nurse.

Lorrie said her son had previously been leaning toward entering the trades, but had a change of heart and wanted to more directly impact people’s lives.

She described Devon as artistic, athletic and well-rounded, with the ability to move easily between different social groups.

“He was just the kind of kid that got along with everybody,” Lorrie said.

After he died, she learned he had started dating Bourque earlier that year but didn’t tell his family about her.

And just days before his death, Devon complained he had been feeling unwell and had a sore throat, but his mother didn’t think much of it.

In fact, the initial autopsy report attributed his death to Strep Bpneumonia, Lorrie said, but it wasn’t until four months later that a pathologist ruled he had died of a morphine overdose.

Lorrie said Bourque told police she had injected Devon with morphine at his request to treat his pain, although the mother insists her son wasn’t into drugs.

“We knew that he smoked pot, but he did not do hard drugs,” she said.

Lorrie acknowledged, however, that she will likely have to confront some difficult truths about her son as the court process unfolds, although such revelations will mean little to the family who loved Devon just the way he was.

“He was kind and generous, and he had a lot to live for,” said Lorrie.

Bourque is represented by Penticton lawyer Paul Varga, who declined comment on the case Wednesday.

She was released on $2,000 bail with 18 conditions, including abstention from drugs and alcohol, plus a requirement to remain in B.C.

Bourque will also have to attend any psychiatric or substanceabuse programs deemed necessary by her bail supervisor, and must not live anywhere illegal drugs or alcohol are present.