Alexandra Flanagan - 33 - Murdered - July 2007 - Barrie, ON

[Concerned]

Flanagan's friends face accused killer
By TRACY MCLAUGHLIN, QMI AGENCY
Posted 27 days ago
In the small, crowded bail court at the Barrie courthouse, friends of Alexandra Flanagan sat in dread as they waited for police to bring out the man accused of murdering her and dismembering her body.

"I'm afraid to look at him," whispers Alyssa Nesbitt as she sat in the front row, wringing her hands and trembling.

"But I have to be here. It's the least I can do for Alex."

As the door to the jail cells opened, the courtroom fell silent as two armed officers quietly led Andrew Keene, wearing handcuffs, into the prisoner's box.

Charged with first-degree murder and performing an indignity to a dead body, the 29-year-old Innisfil man didn't look the "image of evil" that Flanagan's friends imagined he would.

None of the allegations against Keene have been proven in court.

After waiting in anguish for four long years since the petite 33-year-old Barrie woman disappeared on July 8, 2007, then going through shock as police began to turn up her body parts in different areas of the city, Flanagan's friends said they expected someone big, mean and ugly.

"I imagined he might look like a monster," Nesbitt said quietly.

Still, Nesbitt's eyes well up with tears. She begins to tremble as she stares at Keene.

But the man in the prisoner's box did not look like a monster.

His short dark hair and chiselled, even handsome, features resembled a healthy young man who might be anyone's friendly neighbour.

After a night of no sleep on a cement slab in a Barrie police jail cell -- and likely several intense hours in the interrogation room with detectives -- Keene looked dishevelled, distraught, cold and frightened.

As the charges were read out in court, Keene bowed his head, closed his eyes and winced as if in pain as he listened.

His eyes watered a little as he glanced at his father. Clearly shocked since learning about the charges, Keene's father and other family members appeared solemn as they sat in court.

Other than a minor charge for marijuana possession in 2002 in Barrie, which was eventually stayed, Keene has no criminal record. There were also two speeding tickets in 2010 in Singhampton, where he lived briefly, but nothing from his past that might point to a person who is allegedly a cold-blooded killer.

"I know his charges are not proven in court, but it was hard to look at him just the same," said another of Flanagan's close friends, Larissa Calder, as she cuddled her newborn baby that Flanagan will never get to hold.

For the past four years, Calder has been haunted by images of how her friend might have died, although no one really knows. No one, but the killer. "It breaks my heart when I think about it," Calder said. "I will never have my friend back."

"It certainly is a tragic case," said Keene's lawyer, Mitch Eisen.

"I am sure the family of this young woman (is) terribly upset. My client's family is also extremely upset at this time. It's a tough time for everyone."

However, Eisen has not had a chance to review any of the evidence against Keene and could not say if he will be making an application for a bail hearing in Superior court.

Keene is scheduled to make another court appearance on Nov. 2.

http://www.midlandfreepress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3348270

[Concerned]

Are you kidding me? They may have not witnessed the murder, but finding your daughters dismembered remains piece by piece year after year over four years and not being able to have a burial, and your  husband having a heart attack under stress of it all to the point they have to live without his income, does not qualify?

Flanagan family denied victim compensation

BARRIE - Wendy Flanagan and her family have been through much, first with Alexandra Flanagan’s disappearance July 8, 2007, then with the discovery of her dismembered remains later that year.
So it was a shock when Wendy Flanagan learned she wouldn’t get support from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
The board is a provincial agency created in 1971 to give lump sum payments up to $25,000 to victims of assault and families of murder victims.
Flanagan’s claim was rejected earlier this year because a board policy states she must witness the death or see the crime scene to get compensation.
“They didn’t give me anything,” said Flanagan.
“They only said they might give me something if I wanted to speak with a counselor, up to $1,000 or $2,000. I said it’s kind of too late for that.”
“They said the only way I would’ve got money is if I had seen Alex be murdered. I said who sees their child being murdered, really? We were denied (compensation),” she said.
“Her bones were sawed through. It’s as bad as you can get. I have to live with this every day,” said Flanagan in a Toronto Star interview in March.
Flanagan also said the bones already recovered by police have sat in a Toronto forensics lab, and won’t be released to the family until all the remains are gathered and no longer needed as evidence.
So there is still no grave for her daughter, and she told The Advance it will likely still be a few months before the family can have a private burial.
Flanagan said her family had less money coming in because husband Gerry had a heart attack shortly after the first set of remains were found.
“When Alex went missing my husband (Gerry) kept getting pains in his shoulder and nobody could figure out what was wrong with him. It turns out he had a heart attack, I guess it was brought on by stress,” said Flanagan.
He took an early retirement so he didn’t have to go back to work, she said. “Nobody looks after us,” she said.
Flanagan didn’t bother to appeal the compensation board’s decision, but said now that police have all of Alex’s remains, she might have to re-apply for funeral costs.
The compensation board does pay for things like funeral costs, counselling for victims, help for a child conceived through rape or loss of wages up to $250 a week for the victim’s disability to work.
But while the Flanagans were denied, the board has paid police officers who claim pain and suffering while on the job. In 2009, a Toronto Star investigation reviewed 40 approvals to police officers, including one officer who received $10,000 because he can no longer enjoy gardening, visiting flea markets and collecting glass.
“They have coverage for that,” said Flanagan.
In the latest Criminal Injuries Compensation Board annual report, it showed almost 900 applications for the 2009-10 year.
But Jim Cowan, communications advisor with the board, said they don’t release who has applied or the board’s decision.
But in the annual report, it stated $26 million was paid to victims under the category of general pain and suffering last year. Another $2.5 million was awarded in monthly payments.
The average lump sum payment for victims is $7,800, according to the board report.
Cowan said it is not a “policy” that limits board members from providing compensation for pain and suffering in such cases.
“It’s the board’s governing legislation and case law as defined by the courts which defines the limits (of the decisions),” he said.
The board relies on the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act to make its decisions on applications.
Cowan said in general there are very few appeals to the board’s decisions.
-with files from Torstar News Service

http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1232490--flanagan-family-denied-victim-compensation

[Concerned]

Mar 20, 2012 - 6:00 AM|
Keene gets June pre-trial date

BARRIE - An Innisfil man charged in the death of Alexandra Flanagan returns to Barrie court later this spring.
Andrew Keene, 29, will be back in the Ontario Court of Justice for a pre-trial date June 8 with a 16-day preliminary hearing slated to begin August 14.
Keene, who remains in custody, was charged by Barrie police last October with first-degree murder and performing an indignity to a body in connection to Flanagan’s death.
Flanagan, 33, was last seen in the area of Sunnidale Park July 8, 2007. She was wearing pink flip-flops, a black tank top and a pair of beige Capri pants. Dismembered parts of her body were found later that year and again in 2008 and in 2011.

http://www.simcoe.com/news/court/article/1319772--keene-gets-june-pre-trial-date

Preliminary hearing set in Flanagan case for the fall
By Tracey McLaughlin, Special to the Examiner
Updated 9 days ago
Four years after Alexandra Flanagan's disappearance, the details surrounding her death will be heard in court.

The man accused of killing her and then dismembering her body sat quietly in the prisoner’s box Thursday in a Barrie courtroom while lawyers agreed to set the dates for a three-week preliminary hearing that will explore the evidence in the case.

Charged with first-degree murder and dismembering a human body, Andrew Keene, 29, of Innisfil has been held in custody since his arrest last October.

The hearing will begin in Barrie court on Sept. 17 and continue through Oct. 19 where detailed evidence will be heard.

The evidence at the hearing will assist a judge in deciding whether or not the case is strong enough to go to trial.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3502617

[Concerned]

By Janis Ramsay|Jun 08, 2012 - 1:17 PM|  0 |Report a Typo or Correction
Flanagan case back in court in August

BARRIE - Innisfil’s Andrew Keene wore his circular glasses and long hair tucked behind his ears as he made a brief court appearance today.
Keene has been charged with first-degree murder and performing an indignity to a body in connection to Alexandra Flanagan’s death.

The lawyers in the case discussed a few matters privately in Justice Joseph Wilson’s chambers before going back to court to have Keene remanded back Aug. 14 for a focus hearing.

“A focus hearing is a pretrial in open court,” said Keene’s lawyer Mitch Eisen. “It’s for scheduling hearing dates and for the judge to get a sense of how many witnesses the Crown may call, or any particular issues he would need to know about.”

Flanagan disappeared July 8, 2007 after being seen in Sunnidale Park by friends. Later that year, parts of her body were found near Lackies Bush and in February 2008, more remains were found on a trail near Johnson’s Beach.

Barrie police searched a small wooded area last fall off Rose Street, where more evidence was collected.

http://www.simcoe.com/news/court/article/1371102--flanagan-case-back-in-court-in-august

[Concerned]

Five years ago, Alexandra. We haven't forgotten. Prayers to the family and friends in the upcoming trial.

[chrisboy2004]

This absolutely floored me to read... "must witness the death or see the crime scene" ... I think very few ever see a family member murdered, and short of discovering a murdered family member, would one see the actual crime scene. Seems to me to be a clause that excuses them from payment to families

Are you kidding me? They may have not witnessed the murder, but finding your daughters dismembered remains piece by piece year after year over four years and not being able to have a burial, and your  husband having a heart attack under stress of it all to the point they have to live without his income, does not qualify?

Flanagan family denied victim compensation

BARRIE - Wendy Flanagan and her family have been through much, first with Alexandra Flanagan’s disappearance July 8, 2007, then with the discovery of her dismembered remains later that year.
So it was a shock when Wendy Flanagan learned she wouldn’t get support from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.
The board is a provincial agency created in 1971 to give lump sum payments up to $25,000 to victims of assault and families of murder victims.
Flanagan’s claim was rejected earlier this year because a board policy states she must witness the death or see the crime scene to get compensation.
“They didn’t give me anything,” said Flanagan.
“They only said they might give me something if I wanted to speak with a counselor, up to $1,000 or $2,000. I said it’s kind of too late for that.”
“They said the only way I would’ve got money is if I had seen Alex be murdered. I said who sees their child being murdered, really? We were denied (compensation),” she said.
“Her bones were sawed through. It’s as bad as you can get. I have to live with this every day,” said Flanagan in a Toronto Star interview in March.
Flanagan also said the bones already recovered by police have sat in a Toronto forensics lab, and won’t be released to the family until all the remains are gathered and no longer needed as evidence.
So there is still no grave for her daughter, and she told The Advance it will likely still be a few months before the family can have a private burial.
Flanagan said her family had less money coming in because husband Gerry had a heart attack shortly after the first set of remains were found.
“When Alex went missing my husband (Gerry) kept getting pains in his shoulder and nobody could figure out what was wrong with him. It turns out he had a heart attack, I guess it was brought on by stress,” said Flanagan.
He took an early retirement so he didn’t have to go back to work, she said. “Nobody looks after us,” she said.
Flanagan didn’t bother to appeal the compensation board’s decision, but said now that police have all of Alex’s remains, she might have to re-apply for funeral costs.
The compensation board does pay for things like funeral costs, counselling for victims, help for a child conceived through rape or loss of wages up to $250 a week for the victim’s disability to work.
But while the Flanagans were denied, the board has paid police officers who claim pain and suffering while on the job. In 2009, a Toronto Star investigation reviewed 40 approvals to police officers, including one officer who received $10,000 because he can no longer enjoy gardening, visiting flea markets and collecting glass.
“They have coverage for that,” said Flanagan.
In the latest Criminal Injuries Compensation Board annual report, it showed almost 900 applications for the 2009-10 year.
But Jim Cowan, communications advisor with the board, said they don’t release who has applied or the board’s decision.
But in the annual report, it stated $26 million was paid to victims under the category of general pain and suffering last year. Another $2.5 million was awarded in monthly payments.
The average lump sum payment for victims is $7,800, according to the board report.
Cowan said it is not a “policy” that limits board members from providing compensation for pain and suffering in such cases.
“It’s the board’s governing legislation and case law as defined by the courts which defines the limits (of the decisions),” he said.
The board relies on the Compensation for Victims of Crime Act to make its decisions on applications.
Cowan said in general there are very few appeals to the board’s decisions.
-with files from Torstar News Service

http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1232490--flanagan-family-denied-victim-compensation

[jobo]

It truly is unfair. 
Vic Toews recently announced that there was a surplus of money because they didn't need what they thought to run the penal system.  Some critics say the announcement is premature, but my point is that there is extra money right now (how often do you hear that from our government?), so I wonder if all those families of Victims can start some kind of petition to get our government to listen a little harder to their plight, their pain, their hardships because of the crime on their loved one?  Even those who are still searching, and don't know for sure if there was a crime.
Vic Toews was recently appointed to some other position, not sure when it takes effect, but now might be a good time to get ahold of him. 

[jellybean]

Oh God!! Unbelievable!!

The Fed's cross every I and dot every T... and let prisoners get out on parole.
It is almost as if the victim is to blame - and the family is to blame - never the killer!!
Sick! I am not of any firm political persuasion, but I will remember so much when it comes time for my one measly vote!!
We need to (as citizens) to say enough of this  double speak!!

JB

[Concerned]

Focus hearing scheduled for August 14.
Preliminary hearing scheduled for September 17 to October 19.

An Innisfil man accused of murdering and dismembering a Barrie woman was back in court on Friday for a brief pretrial hearing.

Andrew Keene, 29, is charged with first-degree murder and dismembering Alexandra Flanagan, 33, who worked in Barrie as a hairdresser.

Dressed neatly in a beige dress shirt, with shoulder-length straight hair and steel-rimmed glasses, Keene sat quietly in handcuffs in the prisoner's box as he smiled at a family member who sat in court.

Keene appeared calm as chatted quietly with his lawyer, Mitch Eisen.

The pretrial hearing was conducted in private, in the judge's chambers, where members of the public cannot hear the conversation between the judge, lawyer and the Crown attorney.

Keene will be back in court Aug. 14 for what's called a focus hearing, a proceeding where the court will decide on dates and length of the preliminary hearing, set for September. That hearing will give the judge a chance to hear some of the evidence so that he can observe the strength of the Crown's case and whether or not the case should go to trial.

Flanagan was last seen alive on July 8, 2007, near Sunnidale Park, not far from her Wellington Street apartment.

Her partial remains are discovered the following October in a south-end wooded area.

More remains are found in the city's east end in February 2008.

At 8 a.m. on Oct. 20, 2011, Keene was arrested at his Innisfil workplace without incident and charged with first-degree murder and indignity to a human body.

An hour later, skeletal remains are found on a grassy knoll near the northbound Highway 400 on-ramp at Bayfield and Rose streets. The remains are later confirmed as belonging to Flanagan.

Police believe they have recovered all of her body.

None of the allegations against Keene have been proven in court.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2012/06/08/flanagan-suspect-appears-in-court

Preliminary hearing set in Flanagan case for the fall
Tracey McLaughlin, Special to the Examiner
Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:18:43 EDT PM

Four years after Alexandra Flanagan's disappearance, the details surrounding her death will be heard in court.

The man accused of killing her and then dismembering her body sat quietly in the prisoner's box Thursday in a Barrie courtroom while lawyers agreed to set the dates for a three-week preliminary hearing that will explore the evidence in the case.

Charged with first-degree murder and dismembering a human body, Andrew Keene, 29, of Innisfil has been held in custody since his arrest last October.

The hearing will begin in Barrie court on Sept. 17 and continue through Oct. 19 where detailed evidence will be heard.

The evidence at the hearing will assist a judge in deciding whether or not the case is strong enough to go to trial.

http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2012/03/15/preliminary-hearing-set-in-flanagan-case-for-the-fall

[soccermom]

Diane --
I'm so sorry for your terrible, tragic loss. Hang in there. I can only imagine how painful it must be to remain without answers in your mother's death.

[eyeswideopen]

Diane hang in there we care.  Let try to get more inquiry going.  Iam  on my way to work but will check back in with you when I get home. Stay strong girl .

[jobo]

Timedoesnothealall....I am very sorry for your pain.   It is disturbing to know that you were not the first to know what happened to your Mom, it was posted to the internet first.  It is hard to understand why the Police didn't visit you before the news came out.
Or, was there an over jealous reporter that came down to the waterfront?  I think the reporters listen to Police scanners, so they can get to the scene just as fast as the Cops sometimes.

Was there an autopsy on your Mom?   Did you find it suspicious?  The findings?   I understand the fact you think it is suspicious just in the way your Mom (who wasn't that old) was found drowned, but I just wondered if the autopsy gave you more info that makes you suspect murder?

Once again I am sorry for your loss, I am glad you have Barrie Area Victim Services there to talk to you.  Hopefully, between you and them, you may get the ball rolling so that your questions are answered.

[Concerned]

I have always kept this case close to my thoughts and prayers. A family member knows best when something is out of the ordinary with their loved ones routine and happenings. That was enough for me to call this suspicious. 

It would be helpful to have a separate thread for this case. I thought I had opened one a long time ago, but don't see it anymore. I think it deserves it's own place. We have this clip and we also have a news story in Alexandra's thread that mentions Kathleen.

I also think it would be very interesting for Diana to go to the investigating unit and the prosector that is handling the Andrew Keene case and have him ruled out for Kathleen.   

I always wondered if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If I recall she lived in the area Alexandra did and perhaps someone thought she saw something.

[jobo]

That would be a good idea, Concerned, a thread just for Kathleen Sanderson.

[daisygirl]

there is a thread for Kathleen Saunderson, and yes if you truly believe, Diane that your case could be related to Alexandra's you should talk to the investigators.  You have nothing to lose and maybe alot to gain.