The prosecutor called the torture and murder of Tiki Laverdiere a real life ‘horror movie.’ The defence lawyer of one of the 10 convicted said Laverdiere’s murder was the ‘most horrific gang murder in Saskatchewan History.’
Award-winning crime journalist Lisa Joy was the only reporter to sit in daily on many of the preliminary hearings and trials of the 10 convicted in Tiki Laverdiere’s murder.
Laverdiere, a mother of two young sons, left Alberta to attend the funeral of Tristen Cook-Buckle in Saskatchewan with a group of people she knew and would endure hours of torture at three houses before being murdered and her body dumped.
Tristen Cook-Buckle’s murder in Edmonton, Alta., set off a chain of events that would lead to the brutal gang murder of Tiki Laverdiere.
Laverdiere’s murder happened in North Battleford, Sask., which is known as ‘Crime Town’ and one of the most dangerous cities in Canada.
Joy’s book, Hostage in the House, is the most comprehensive summary from court proceedings, psychological and parole reports, interrogations, and the investigation of Tiki Laverdiere’s horrific murder.
The police investigation into Tiki Laverdiere’s murder spanned two provinces, nine crimes scenes with more than 120 witnesses interviewed.
Joy also delves into the issue of street gangs in Saskatchewan and how the RCMP and Provincial Government are tackling the problem.
She also touches on racism in the Battlefords and intergenerational trauma driving the growth of street gangs in Saskatchewan.
Joy ends on a positive note, with advice for gang members from experts on how to leave the lifestyle, and quoting experts who say even those who have done horrendous things can be rehabilitated.
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AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Hostage in the House depicts one of the most horrific gang murders in Saskatchewan history. It was incredibly complex, with Tiki Laverdiere being moved between multiple locations, over a dozen people involved (10 of whom were convicted), and layers of brutality and complicity.
Because of the sheer number of perpetrators, overlapping testimonies, and legal proceedings, some details are revisited from different angles to show how each participant contributed to the crime. The journalistic approach was deliberate; a traditional narrative structure might have oversimplified or even glossed over key facts in a case this sprawling.
That said, I understand how the style might feel disjointed to readers expecting a linear true-crime story. My goal was to ensure accountability and clarity by presenting the full scope of what happened, even if that meant some repetition or a more fragmented structure. This wasn’t just one killer acting alone; it was a web of violence, and untangling it required showing every thread.
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