Grieving mother taunted online

Lisa Johnstone says social media users claim to have killed her son

A Saskatchewan mother whose son was found dead in a smouldering car says she’s being taunted on social media by people claiming to be the killers. Brennan Ahenakew, who was 20, was reported missing by his family on May 10 and his remains were found later the same day in a burned car on the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in central Saskatchewan.

His mother, Lisa Johnstone, says she and two of her family members received Facebook friend requests late Monday night under the name Brennan with her son’s graduation photo

Johnstone says she sent a message back asking who it was and why they would do such a thing.

She says she received a response back saying that her son suffered and begged for his life before he died.

Johnstone reported the account to RCMP, who say they are investigating.

“Just to let you know we made him suffer and he begged for his life,” the message said.

Johnstone, who went to the scene in May when she heard it was her son’s car, says it was difficult to read the message because no one has been arrested in her son’s death.

“I looked at him and I saw his body and I knew right away we would not get justice because they burned everything,” she said. “They burned all the evidence and they made it look like my son did that to himself.”

She said she has tried to be patient, but she’s frustrated with the pace of the investigation.

Police say the investigation into the Facebook account is complicated, but ongoing.

“We’re using specialized investigators in our criminal analysis section as well as our general investigation section,” said RCMP Cpl. Rob King. “We take all complaints regarding online crime very seriously and people will be held accountable for any criminal activity.”

He said they don’t believe the social media messages have anything to do with Ahenakew’s death.