A publication ban kept her silenced for years, but now Angeline Andy wants to tell her daughter’s story.
Autumn Andy, 15, was murdered in her home community of Big Grassy River First Nation in northwestern Ontario five years ago.
“I carried her, I gave her life, I breast fed her and she was stolen from me. I feel like a part of me is gone,” Angeline told APTN News from her home, while looking through Autumns photos.
“She loved being outdoors. She enjoyed walking this earth.”
Autumn was last seen June 10, 2018. Three days later, her body was found near the grounds of Pegamigaabo School in Big Grassy River.
Darrell Tuesday-Willie was charged in connection with her death. He was 24 years old at the time.
Tuesday-Willie was originally charged with first degree murder, sexual assault, interfering with human remains and confining Andy.
He initially pled not guilty on all four counts in August 2021 – but later agreed to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and to improperly interfering with human remains.
Tuesday-Willie was sentenced in October 2021 to life in prison, not eligible for parole for 13 years while concurrently serving two years for improperly interfering with human remains.
A publication ban under criminal code 517 meant Angeline couldn’t speak with media on the details of Tuesday-Willie’s trial until it was over.
“I didn’t know how to accept. I felt I had to suppress, I had to suppress partly because of a publication ban. That’s been such a struggle,” she said.
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Angeline said Autumn and Tuesday-Willie were known to each other. They were neighbors in a townhouse complex on reserve where she still resides today.
“He was hiding on the other side of the wall after what he did to Autumn. He lived there for about a year after we moved in, but at the time of Autumn’s death he didn’t live there,”
Autumn would have been 20 on June 23, 2023.
In honor of her, Angeline joined the Big Grassy River First Response Team and takes part in self-defense classes with her 7-year-old daughter Alaina. She said more women should do the same to prevent stories like Autumn’s
“None of the young girls and women deserve that. I don’t deserve to this life the way I have to. To continue the person I want to be, who she helped me to be, who Autumn helped me to be. She gave me strength along the way to be this person I am today.”
