Regina man facing murder charges in three separate deaths over three months

In a rare instance for Regina, one man is being charged in connection with three different murders in the city, in a story that involves guns, gangs, and multiple run-ins with police.

On Wednesday, Regina police arrested Dillon Ricky Whitehawk. He was already in custody at the Regina Correctional Centre on other charges, but this time the charges were three counts of first-degree murder.

He’s accused in the deaths of: Jordan Denton, who was 27 years old; Keenan Toto, who was 23; and Keesha Bitternose, who died when she was 29.

According to the Regina police, officers were called out to the 800 block of Robinson Street near Second Avenue for a possible shooting early in the morning on Nov. 9. They say a vehicle drove up and Denton was shot. When police and EMS arrived, they found him dead.

It was almost the same story on Dec. 1, when police were called out to the 1200 block of Queen Street near Sixth Avenue for a possible shooting. They say a vehicle pulled up, and Toto was shot.

In both cases, Supt. Corey Zaharuk said he wasn’t aware of whether Whitehawk and the victims knew each other, but he called the shootings “senseless” and said police believe they were “opportunistic, planned, and deliberate.”

Bitternose’s body was found in a home on Jan. 5 on the 1500 block of Cameron Street, though police believe she was killed three days before. Police wouldn’t say how she was killed, but two other people are charged in her death — 20-year-old Curtis Thomas and 26-year-old Kelly Stonechild.

In Bitternose’s case, police believe she knew all three of those accused in her death, and that all three are either members of, or are associated with, a Saskatchewan street gang. Zaharuk wouldn’t name the gang, saying he didn’t want to give them notoriety.

Zaharuk didn’t reveal whether the murders were gang-related, saying he didn’t know in two of the cases. In the other, he knew, but wouldn’t say.

“At this point in these investigations I don’t believe there are any further connections between any of these homicides other than Dillon Whitehawk is accused of first-degree murder in all three,” said Zaharuk.

Zaharuk also revealed that, at the time of each of the murders, Whitehawk was out in public because he had been released from custody on undertaking while other charges — some weapons-related — made their way through the courts.

Whitehawk had been arrested in September on weapons charges but was released. He didn’t show up for court on Halloween and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The day after Toto’s murder, Whitehawk was recognized by an officer and arrested on that warrant. He was held for several days and released Dec. 11 on numerous conditions, including that he not live or be in Regina.

Two days after Bitternose’s murder, Whitehawk was found and arrested at a convenience store in Regina on unrelated charges.

When asked about the releases, Zaharuk said police don’t have control over that, and that they also didn’t have much of this information at the time. He explained that police are constantly focused on people who seriously compromise public safety.

“It’s clear that Dillon Whitehawk was not the only one but one of a handful that we were aware of and we were trying our best to stay on top of him,” said Zaharuk.

And when asked about what police would say to Bitternose’s family, seeing as Whitehawk had been in custody briefly a few weeks before her death, Zaharuk said police have had contact with Bitternose’s family.

“We try and let them know as much as we can, and I think it’s fair to say that her family is very aware of our diligent efforts to hold responsible (or) accountable for her death,” Zaharuk said.

Zaharuk wasn’t willing to use the label of “serial killer” for Whitehawk, saying he wanted to keep the focus on the victims.

“We may get there where we’ll use that term,” he said, “but it’s a sensational term as well. It very well may be an accurate term but I don’t want that to overshadow the people who have lost their lives here.”

The victims

Zaharuk talked about Denton, saying he was from the Kawacatoose First Nation and he often volunteered there. Family was very important to Denton, and his mother prayed every day for police to find who was responsible.

Toto was a father and a stepfather, and Zaharuk said his children were his pride and joy. Toto and his wife loved watching sunsets and sunrises together and he had many goals he wanted to achieve.

According to Zaharuk, Bitternose had experienced a lot of loss in her life, including that of a baby girl. He said her family describes her as having a beautiful smile and big brown eyes that they’ll forever cherish and remember.

Zaharuk praised the officers involved in the case, saying it took a lot of people and a lot of work. He also praised the community in the North Central neighbourhood for helping.

“(It was) everything from people sharing videos saying, ‘Listen, I don’t know if this has anything to do with what you’re looking for, but here’s video,’ ” Zaharuk said. “So the co-operation in the community has been key.”

The superintendent said the charges being laid are an accomplishment for the police, but he still called it a sad day because those three people — Denton, Toto and Bitternose — still tragically lost their lives.