Homicide victim’s family plans celebration of his life Earl Clapp died after he interrupted theft at his Pelham home
Almost two years after Earl Clapp was tragical killed, his family hopes to give their “superman” the sendoff he deserves.
“To my daughters and I, he was like a superman,” said Tillie Clapp, whose 74-year-old husband was killed after interrupting the attempted theft of a trailer from his Pelham property in the early morning hours of Oct. 2, 2020.
He was dragged for almost two kilometres while trapped below a vehicle fleeing the scene.
Clapp said the family is planning a celebration of life as a final tribute to Earl, now that most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
The event is planned for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 11, at the family’s Centre Street home in Fenwick.
“We really want this to be a celebration of the good parts of his life, and to put that other ugly stuff in the background,” she said, referring to the “heinous” crime that led to his death.
Clapp said the memorial is also an opportunity to thank people for their overwhelming support, such as a procession of hundreds of vehicles that passed by the family’s home when COVID-19 restrictions prevented people from attending funeral services.
“It was a moving experience for the people in (the procession), and it was a moving experience for us,” she said.
Clapp said she was overwhelmed by the community’s generosity as well.
“I did not cook for myself for six months,” she said. “I had so much food brought to the door by places in the community by restaurants, food stores, by people I didn’t event know.”
Clapp said the circumstances of her husband’s death added to the outpouring of support.
“The nature of his death, I think the community took personally. This is not where we want to live. This is not how we expect people to be,” she said.
Clapp hopes justice will have been served on the man responsible for Earl’s death by the time the celebration of life takes place.
A sentencing hearing for Jason Lusted, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his part in Earl’s death, is set for June 7 — a few days before the event.
Clapp said the family supported the Crown’s decision to reduce the charge against Lusted to manslaughter. He was initially charged with second-degree murder.
Lusted’s co-accused, Matthew MacInnes, of West Lincoln, was also initially charged with seconddegree murder, but that charge was withdrawn in March. MacInnes instead pleaded guilty to several other charges, including attempted theft. He was sentenced to time served, having been behind bars since his arrest.
Clapp said learning that MacInnes was released from custody was hard for the family.
She said her husband knew many people through his business Niagara Farm Metal Products, and she hopes some of them will attend the June celebration.
“It’s difficult planning an event like this because I know some of Earl’s work colleagues, but I don’t know them all and I don’t know how to reach them,” she said.
She asked people planning to attend to contract her at tillieclapp@gmail.com.
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The nature of his death, I think the community took personally.