three weeks later Alberta RCMP Issued Preliminary information about the “prolonged child abuse investigation”,More allegations have been added to the case after seven new victims came forward.
At that time, three adults were arrested, including Sherina Maria Handser, 43, of Sandy Beach.
He was arrested on April 8 and charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, assault with a weapon and forcible confinement in connection with allegations of historical physical and sexual child abuse in Edson between 2005 and 2011.
Sherina Maria Handser, 43, of Sandy Beach, Alta.
Alberta RCMP
At the time, police said investigators believed the case was very large.
“We have a feeling there are other victims out there – that’s why we released our original news release and released photos of these suspects, hopefully some of the victims who were holding this information will be located,” said RCMP public information officer Cpl. Can come forward.” Troy Savinkoff said Tuesday.
Five new victims have come forward to RCMP, accusing them of historical child abuse crimes while in the care of Handsor in Whitecourt and Quesnel, B.C.
RCMP said they also identified two additional victims, bringing the total to seven new victims of suspected child abuse.
“I am afraid we are dealing with a lot of victims. There are lots of ages – I don’t know the specific ages of all of them. However, they were all obviously young people,” Savinkoff said.
“These are very disturbing things that we are investigating.”
On April 29, the RCMP charged Sherina Maria Handsor with 13 additional charges related to historical child abuse, including:
• Seven cases of failure to provide the necessities of life
• Assault with a weapon
• Attack causing physical harm
• Three cases of assault
• Two cases of giving harmful substance
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Handser was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remains in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 1 at the Stony Plain courthouse.
Following Handsor’s initial arrest, the RCMP Serious Crime Division also arrested Nicole Kathleen Barrett, 45, of Whitecourt, Alta., police said. In connection with the same investigation.
Nicole Kathleen Barrett, 45, of Whitecourt, Alta.
Alberta RCMP
RCMP said the two women knew each other but could not say exactly how.
“I don’t know exactly what the nature of that relationship is, but everyone involved in this investigation is connected. They all know each other,” Savinkoff said.
On April 24, 2024, RCMP arrested and charged Nicole Barrett with three counts of failure to provide the necessaries of life and one count of assault.
Barrett appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was released on bail, which included conditions restricting contact with the victims. Barrett’s next court appearance is scheduled for May 28 at the Whitecourt Courthouse.
RCMP said information obtained during the investigation suggests there may still be additional people who have information about the involvement of Sherina Handser and Nicole Barrett in alleged crimes against children.
“We still believe there may be more victims. We would like them to see what is happening in these investigations, the fact that there are additional things going on in the court. And we’re asking all potential victims of this group or anyone else who may be connected to it, or who has information, to please come forward,” Savincoff said.
Savinkoff said police believe many survivors of childhood abuse live with their trauma in silence.
“Unfortunately, this is one of those crimes that is not reported as much as we would like. I think a lot of people hold on to that information or try to move on with their lives and don’t bring these things up again,” he said.
She hopes news of the arrests and charges will give survivors the courage to speak out.
“I think these (news releases) bring back some memories for them, maybe things that they’re dealing with and that they’re keeping quiet about.
“Maybe this is their opportunity. “They start to realize how much it has affected them and decide to come forward.”
Savinkoff said that because of the historical nature of the crimes, many of the victims no longer live in the area where the alleged crimes occurred.
Previous allegations in the case
Two other adults were also charged earlier this year in the investigation, which began with alleged historical crimes in Edson and expanded to include recent incidents in Fort McMurray.
Jimmy Allen Fransen, 51, of Fort McMurray, was arrested March 21 and charged with sexual assault, sexual assault with a weapon, sexual interference with a child under 16, sexual exploitation, making and possessing child pornography Was imposed.
Jimmy Allen Fransen, 51, of Fort McMurray, Sherina Maria Handser, 43, of Sandy Beach, and Brenda Disher (also known as Brenda Fransen) of Fort McMurray are facing child abuse charges.
Supply/RCMP
Following Fransen’s arrest, a second victim in Fort McMurray came forward with “unrelated allegations of child sexual abuse” in the northern Alberta city between 2017 and 2023, RCMP said.
They were both released on bail with conditions prohibiting them from having contact with children. He is scheduled to appear in court in Fort McMurray on April 29, and Fransen is also scheduled to appear in court in Edson on May 7.
If you have any information about these crimes or those responsible, please call the RCMP Serious Crime Division at 780-509-3290.
If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact crime Stoppers By phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or Online,
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