By Spencer Sterritt

Local fundraiser hopes to help families of Nanaimo men slain in Alberta

May 10, 2017 | 2:11 PM

NANAIMO — A local fundraiser hopes to raise $10,000 for the family of two Nanaimo men who were slain on their porches out in Chipman, AB.

Jason Williams and Terry Sutton were killed April 3 in the small Alberta town northeast of Edmonton. According to a release from RCMP, 36-year-old Raymond Nickerson is charged with two counts of second-degree murder. RCMP said they don’t believe it was a random incident.

Family friend Peter Hudson is hosting a fundraiser and silent auction Saturday, May 27 at the Queen’s to raise money for the grieving family.

More than a month after losing his friends, Hudson choked up numerous times when talking to NanaimoNewsNOW.

“People were shocked. These guys have a lot of friends here, a lot of people love them (and) they’re really respected here. A lot of people want to be there and get behind it.”

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Hudson said he talks to Misti Sutton, who’s still in Chipman with her family, nearly every day. He said she’s doing as well as could be expected with her grief by going to counselling and making sure she and their four children aren’t isolated by their trauma.

“It’s sad for us, but (the children) lost a father in a horrific crime and it’s really about them,” he said.

Having worked on the fundraiser for a few weeks now, Hudson said there’s already been a strong outpouring of support from the community.

A separate GoFundMe for the families has raised more than $11,000.

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit