CALGARY – The man accused in the murders of a two-year-old Alberta girl and her father has been ordered to undergo a 30-day psychiatric assessment.
Derek Saretzky faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Terry Blanchette, 27, and Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette.
The 22-year-old made his first appearance in Lethbridge Provincial Court on Wednesday via CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre.
The results of the psychiatric assessment will be used to determine if Saretzky is fit to stand trial, and what his state of mind was at the time of the alleged offence. It will be conducted at the Southern Alberta Psychiatric Centre.
READ MORE: What we know about Derek Saretzky
Blanchette was found dead inside his Blairmore, Alta. home on Sept. 14. Officers discovered Hailey was missing, prompting an Amber Alert. The next day, RCMP found Hailey’s remains in a rural area.
Terry and Hailey’s mother, 20-year-old Cheyenne Dunbar, were separated, but the two maintained a good relationship and both cared for Hailey.
Saretzky was known to both Blanchette and Dunbar, but authorities have not disclosed why they believe the father and his daughter were killed.
READ MORE: $20,000 raised in 24 hours for funerals of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and Terry Blanchette
Saretzky has elected to be tried by a judge and jury.
He was originally scheduled to appear in court last week, but his appearance was put over.
Sources told Global News Saretzky was rushed to hospital on Sept. 23 after attempting suicide at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre. He spent a few days in a medically-induced coma, but was released from hospital and placed back into RCMP custody on Monday.
During his court appearance on Wednesday, Saretzky was walking, talking and appeared to be in good health.
TIMELINE: Abduction and murder of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and Terry Blanchett
– With files from Quinn Campbell and The Canadian Press
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