Shawn Boschuk and Al Pennylegion. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.com)Shawn Boschuk and Al Pennylegion. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.com)
Windsor

Help Needed For Murdered Calgary Couple's Children

A Windsor family is asking for the public's help after an unthinkable tragedy in Calgary.

Laura Kay has set up a GoFundMe account after her step-brother Al Pennylegion and his wife Shawn Boschuk were found dead in their home the morning of July 31.

Police in Calgary say the couple, who were well known in the community, were two victims in a triple murder that also took the life of a 25-year-old woman, Taylor Toller. Toller who was found in a separate home last week, six days after her death.

Dustin Duthie, Boschuck's son and Pennylegion's step-son, faces three counts of second-degree murder and has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

Kay says Pennylegion and Boschuk left behind four other children aged 17 to 25 who are now alone in Calgary.

"My dad, who is the grandfather to these children, and my sister, myself and my brother; we are all here in Windsor," she says. "We didn't know what we could do other than to help raise some funds."

Al Pennylegion and Shawn Boschuk leave behind four children. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.com) Al Pennylegion and Shawn Boschuk leave behind four children. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe.com)

Right now, the family's finances are tied up because of the police investigation. Kay says money raised will help David, Adam and Jordyn Pennylegion, and their sister, Alexis Deane pay for their parents' funerals.

Pennylegion's mother was very involved in volunteering and fundraising in Windsor before her death in 2015. Carole Pennylegion was a member of the Red Hat Society and sang at Our Lady of the Atonement Church. Her husband, Mike Heffernan volunteers at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County and for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Kay says the entire family enjoys giving back to the community and never thought they would one day be the ones asking for help.

"You know, 25-year-olds and younger are still very young, and they definitely need our support and the community's support," says Kay.

She says the children are doing as well as can be expected, and the family here has discussed the possibility of relocating the surviving family members to Windsor.

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