Family discourages vigilantism after woman’s slaying

The family of Nicole Fortier, a 46-year-old mother of four killed at her St. Vital home over the weekend, say they are heartbroken and are urging friends not to seek revenge.

“Our family’s position on violence is firm, and we do not condone any form of violence, including revenge,” said Christian Haines, Fortier’s cousin and closest family member, in a statement to the Free Press on Tuesday. “We are asking those close to her to remain tolerant to the situation while the courts deal with (the case).”

The family said its concern relates to Fortier having had gang ties.

Fortier was killed early Saturday in a Manitoba Housing complex on the 600 block of St. Anne’s Road. Police said they were called to the residence around 1:15 a.m. after a report that a woman was being seriously assaulted.

Officers arrived to find two women outside the complex with severe injuries “to their upper bodies,” police said.

Paramedics rushed Fortier to hospital in critical condition, but she later died. A 27-year-old woman was taken to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable.

Sonny Besskkaystare, 21, has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault. He remains in custody, police said.

“We are devastated to hear about Nicole, who was a kind, compassionate, and caring mother of four children,” Haines said. “Nicole was full of life; she was an extroverted person who was always on the go. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do.”

Haines thanked the Winnipeg Police Service for a speedy arrest.

Besskkaystare has a lengthy list of run-ins with police, including a stint on the province’s most wanted list last year. Fortier’s family wants to know why he wasn’t behind bars at the time she was killed.

“To the lawmakers in Ottawa, I say this: Are you awake?” Haines said. “To the province of Manitoba and to Wab Kinew, the province has a femicide problem that needs your immediate attention. Rest in peace, Nicole.”

Merve Buhay, the father of three of the slain woman’s four children, said she was always willing to help others, even as she struggled with a troubled past.

“She was a good person, she liked helping people out,” Buhay said. “She lived a wild life. She liked to be busy, and she liked to help people out. She especially loved her kids.”

Buhay said one of his daughters had been with Fortier earlier in the day, but none of the children were at home at the time of the killing.

He said Fortier had been attacked before — including about a month ago.

“I asked Nicole about it several times,” Buhay said. “I told her that if there was something I needed to know, let me know. I would have the person removed from the house one way or another. She told me not to worry about it, that she had just been drunk and had fallen off her bike.

“She didn’t want to say anything about it. That’s just how she was.”

Fortier’s life, he said, had been difficult from the start, with both of her parents involved in gangs. Her sister died of a fentanyl overdose in 2020.

“She had seen quite a bit — strippers, drugs, beatings. She grew up in it,” Buhay said. “She lived through quite a bit. She wasn’t scared to take on anyone, I’ll tell you that.”

Buhay said Fortier went back to school about a decade ago to earn her high school diploma and later worked with young girls in Moosomin, Sask., who had run away from home and struggled with addictions. She also worked with youth in Winnipeg.

Tributes on Facebook for Fortier described her as a person who got back up when life pushed her down.

“You had a tough life my friend,” said one post. “When life kicked you down, you always fought back. We were besties once and we had so many great times. I’m so sorry for what has happened to you. My heart breaks for your children. Love you lady and rest easy now. You need some peace.”

Added another: “She knew soooooo many people!! She will be missed by many. And her poor kids. I knew her since junior high or maybe even grade school. RIP Nicole.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca