The president of the We’koqma’q Native Women’s Association says a long-awaited arrest in the murder of Cassidy Bernard is a step in the healing process, but Bernard’s death will leave a mark on the community for a long time.
Janey Michael was in the room when RCMP announced the arrest of Dwight Austin Isadore, 20, in We’koqma’q Tuesday.
After, Michael said it’s a small relief to finally know an arrest has been made in the case.
“We didn’t know- whoever did this was still out there, we didn’t know the outcome,” she said. “We didn’t even know that this case would be solved- thankfully it has been.”
Michael said the arrest doesn’t change what happened to Bernard, who was found dead in a We’koqma’q home in Oct. 2018; her infant twin girls were left by her side.
She said the 22-year-old’s death has left a hole in members of her family and the community.
“We’ll never bring closure to our community,” she said. “We lost a young, vibrant woman.”
Michael said community members will continue to mourn the loss of Bernard as they help support the twins she left behind.
Isadore, who also faces two counts of abandoning a child, remains in custody following his arrest Monday; he made his first court appearance in the case the next day.
He’s scheduled to return to Port Hawkesbury Provincial Court Dec. 16.
