Life has forever changed for the loved ones of Sara Baillie and little Taliyah Marsman.
It’s been one week since Baillie was found dead inside of her northwest Calgary home, sparking an Alberta-wide Amber Alert that ended in tragedy.
READ MORE: Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie remembered at Calgary vigil
It’s believed Baillie’s little girl, Taliyah, was killed just hours later. The search for the five-year-old came to a heartbreaking end last Thursday after Calgary police found her body just outside the city limits.
Baillie’s mother and brother spoke for the first time Tuesday about their incomprehensible loss. Their hearts are broken.
“They will be sadly missed and will leave a huge hole in our hearts,” Sara’s mother Janet Fredette said as she broke down.
“I guess I want the world to know that Sara was a very special girl and Taliyah was the light of her life and it’s nice that they’ve taken this journey with us. We don’t like the outcome of the journey.”
Watch below: Global’s ongoing coverage of Sara Baillie and Taliyah Marsman
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Calgary vigil for Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie -
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Man charged with murders of Sara Baille and Taliyah Marsman didn’t pose ‘undue risk’: parole board -
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Tragedy in Calgary: Body of Taliyah Marsman found, suspect is charged -
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Social media reaction to death of Taliyah Marsman -
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Calgary police update media after body believed to be Taliyah Marsman found -
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Suspect in murder of Sara Baillie and disappearance of Taliyah Marsman taken into custody
Family was everything to Baillie. And from the moment Taliyah was born, she became the heart of the family.
“I was there to help bring Taliyah into the world, and that was the happiest day of my life,” Fredette said.
READ MORE: Crimes involving children especially ‘devastating’ for police, experts say
Taliyah loved life and never missed a chance to dance or play dress up.
Everything she did revolved around her mother, who she fondly called “mama”.
They were inseparable.
“Taliyah was Sara’s shadow. Wherever Sara went, Taliyah went,” Sara’s brother Michael Baillie said.
To Taliyah, Michael was “uncle Mikey.”
READ MORE: ‘Our hearts are broken’ – Canadians mourn deaths of Taliyah Marsman and Sara Baillie
“She was like my buddy. We’d go for walks. If I had to walk to the store to go get some groceries she wanted to come with me and that was great.”
For Michael, it’s now about the missed memories and milestones.
“Not seeing her grow up, if she ever had any questions or wanted any advice from myself I can’t give that to her now… so that makes it hard,” he said.
“I never got to take her out actual fishing…that’s something that was taken away.”
Fredette said she thinks about the graduation that Taliyah will never experience.
READ MORE: Man charged with Sara Baillie, Taliyah Marsman murders didn’t pose ‘undue risk’, said parole board
Family gathered and looked at photos and videos on Thursday, reliving their favourite times together.
“She was so proud when she phoned to tell us she had lost another front tooth and that was just a week ago,” Fredette said.
“They’ll always be in our hearts,” Baillie said. “So that’s going to be tough…that they won’t be here.”
“They’re gone but we still have their memories,” Fredette in tears. “Hopefully the pain will ease in time but I know it’s never going to go away.”
A funeral will be held for Baillie and Taliyah on Thursday at Centre Street Church (3900 2nd Street N.E.) at 2:00 p.m. MT.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Missing Children Society of Canada here.
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