Slain boy a ‘true superhero’
Nathan Dumas, a little boy who just wanted to help others, was “a true superhero,” his mother said at his funeral.
Hundreds of people filled the Pleasantview Funeral Home in Fonthill Friday afternoon to standing-room only to say goodbye to the seven-year-old St. Catharines boy.
“It goes to show you what a beautiful boy he was that so many people came together to celebrate his life,” said Nathan’s mother Whitney Dumas. “If you knew him it was easy to say he was an old soul and a purist, always helping others in a time of need no matter what the consequences or repercussions or how mad his mom was. He never thought twice about standing up for what he thought was right.”
The service featured a video montage of Nathan’s life showing him playing with his brother and sister, learning archery with his grandfather and improvising a song while washing the dishes for his mother. The short film also featured footage of Nathan frog hunting and splashing around with abandon in a creek.
Dumas described her son, a Grade 2 student at Harriet Tubman Public School, as a “true empathist.”
“He always knew when someone was sad or needed help. He would be the first one to the rescue. As his friends have said many times, he was a true superhero.”
Nathan died Saturday morning at the St. Catharines hospital after being critically wounded the previous morning.
He was found by his mother shortly after 10:15 a.m. March 17 in their Queenston Street apartment. She found him after his step-father, Justin Kuijer, left the home with Dumas’ van, saying he going to get a cup of coffee.
Dumas had recently broken-up with Kuijer with whom she has two other children.
Around 10:30 a.m. that morning, a man walked into the RBC on Martindale Road and stabbed a female employee. Police say the woman knew her attacker, but have not disclosed the motive for the stabbing, other than to say it wasn’t an attempted robbery or domestic dispute.
Police sought Kuijer for attempted murder in connection
He always knew when someone was sad or needed help. He would be the first one to the rescue. As his friends have said many times, he was a true superhero.” Nathan’s mother Whitney Dumas
the stabbing. After Dumas died, police issued Canada-wide warrants for attempted murder and second-degree murder.
Kuijer was on the run for five days before the van he was driving was recognized in Kenora, Ont. on Tuesday. A citizen who recognized the van from photos in the news media called police, and Kuijer was arrested.
The murder charge was upgraded to first-degree murder when he was captured.
He appeared in a St. Catharines court Thursday. Kuijer remains in custody and his next appearance is scheduled for April 19. glafleche@postmedia.ca Twitter: @grantrants