'It's just horrific': Mother of Chilliwack murder victim hoping to raise awareness, support
Weeks after her daughter was viciously killed, Jana Jorgenson is hoping to raise awareness for women facing abuse.
On July 21, Jorgenson’s daughter, 43-year-old Amber Culley, was shot and killed by Eric Shestalo inside a Chilliwack home. Mimi Kates, 49, was also killed, and Culley’s brother Aaron was shot, but survived.
"It's just horrific to think we'll never see her again. I just can't believe that quite yet,” Jorgenson told CTV News.
On July 22, Shestalo’s red Jeep YJ was found in the Bridal Falls area, east of Chilliwack. On July 25, Shestalo’s body was found. Police say it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Jorgenson says Shestalo was an ex-partner of her daughter.
"Nobody in our family liked him and we tried desperately to keep him away from her,” Jorgenson said.
Jorgenson said Culley had a restraining order against Shestalo, who was supposed to be in court the same day as the killings to face multiple charges of assault and uttering threats to cause bodily harm.
“This was a man who should have been put away 20 years ago,” she said.
Jorgenson said her daughter wasn’t the first woman to have issues with Shestalo.
“A lot of them have contacted us (with) the same kind of scary stories, that didn’t quite get to this,” she said.
Jorgenson said she’d now like to see more support and awareness of violence against women.
"This predatory type of behaviour that is insurmountable for these women, they live in that fear but they don't know how to reach out really and tell other people,” she said.
"As a community, we need to come together and create more for these women to have safety and to have counselling before something like this happens.”
Culley’s two sons – 12-year-old Dante and nine-year-old Magnus – were home at the time of the shootings and witnessed much of the incident.
"They've had so much trauma in their life,” Jorgenson said.
She says the boys' father also died three years ago of a medical emergency.
Despite the severe hardships, Jorgenson says they’ve remained very strong.
“They’re really focused on her (Amber) being present,” she said.
The family has created an online trust fund for the boys, hoping others will help them build towards the future.
"I just want them to be able to have an opportunity,” Jorgenson said.
Dante and Magnus are now living with Jorgenson and her husband in Parksville, B.C.
Details on the online trust for Culley's sons are seen at the bottom of this memorial image.
A celebration of the life of Amber Culley will be held in Maple Ridge on Aug. 25.
With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Michele Brunoro
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW What Canada is doing about the toxic forever chemicals in drinking water
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
Arrest made, manslaughter charge pending in 2022 death of Calgary toddler
Calgary police have arrested a man and a charge is pending in connection with the death of a toddler in 2022.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson Airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Here's why experts don't think cloud seeding played a role in Dubai's downpour
Scientists say it's highly unlikely cloud seeding is responsible for the heavy rains that have caused flooding in the United Arab Emirates this month, and that climate change is the more likely culprit.