In a heartbreaking incident that has left a family in mourning and a community in shock, 24-year-old Claire Leveque from Westlock, Alberta, was pronounced dead in the Sandness area of Scotland’s Shetland Islands, a serene archipelago known for its rugged beauty and tight-knit community of around 23,000 residents. The Scottish police have charged her boyfriend, Aren Pearson, with her murder, casting a dark shadow over the picturesque setting.
Clint Leveque, Claire’s devastated father, described the news of his daughter’s death as “the sickest thing you could possibly imagine.” Claire, who had ventured to the Shetland Islands with Pearson, a local of the area, met her tragic end in circumstances that are yet to be fully unraveled by the authorities. The couple, having met and started dating in Edmonton last summer, had plans to return to Canada, hinted at by ominous text messages sent by Pearson to Clint just days before the tragedy was discovered.
A damaged vehicle is pulled from the water as part of the investigation. (BBC News)
The response to a disturbance earlier in the week led police to the grim scene where Claire was found deceased. Pearson, now in custody, appeared in court without entering a plea and awaits further legal proceedings. The case, filled with unsettling gaps, has left Clint grappling for answers amidst his grief. He fondly remembers his daughter for her zest for life and love for adventure, holding onto the hope for justice amidst the overwhelming sorrow.
The incident has resonated deeply within the Shetland community, described as a “huge shock” by local councillor Liz Peterson, who extended her condolences to the bereaved family and all affected by the tragedy. Meanwhile, Global Affairs Canada has acknowledged the death of a Canadian citizen in Scotland, engaging with local authorities to gather more information while navigating the sensitivities around privacy considerations.
