CALGARY – Derek Saretzky, the man accused of killing two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and her father, made a brief appearance in court in Lethbridge on Friday.
Saretzky appeared via closed-circuit television. During the brief appearance, the judge set aside June 20-30 for a preliminary hearing.
Saretzky, 22, faces two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Terry Blanchette, 27, and Hailey.
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. Saretzky has also been charged with one count of committing indignity to a human body.
Police have said Saretzky was an “acquaintance” of Blanchette and Cheyenne Dunbar, Hailey’s mother, but refused to elaborate on the nature of the relationship.
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Saretzky was found fit to stand trial after a psychiatric examination last December.
TIMELINE: Abduction and murder of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette and Terry Blanchett
– With files from The Canadian Press