Funeral to be held for Regina murder victim as family seeks justice

The funeral for Regina’s first murder victim of 2020 is set to be held on Saturday.

The body of Keesha Bitternose, 29, was found on the 1500 block of Cameron Street on Sunday. She leaves behind four children between the ages of five and 11.

In a statement, the family said it’s grief-stricken and devastated, finding it incomprehensible that there could be such a cruel disregard for human life and dignity.

“Her senseless murder has left us to mourn a young and valuable life ended too soon. We loved Keesha, we needed her and it’s hard to fathom that she is no longer with us,” the statement reads. “Our lives will never be the same.”

Bitternose’s family describes her as a beautiful, bright and resilient woman.

“Her gentle and kind soul, her laughter, her smile, her big brown eyes and beauty are irreplaceable,” the statement read.

Bitternose was raised on the George Gordon First Nation and moved to Regina after graduating high school to pursue education or training opportunities for herself in order to take care of her children.

Erica Beaudin, a spokesperson for the family, said Bitternose was torn away from her family and never got the opportunity to realize the full potential of who she was.

“Somebody or some people made the decision to end her life and there’s no going back from that. Due to that, there are four children who will move forward in their life without their mother. The violence has to stop,” said Beaudin.

Due to her murder, the family will leave the funeral with several questions still to be answered as it is seeks justice.

The Regina Police Service investigation has not yet led to any arrests in her murder.