Convicted individual receives a lifetime sentence for the fatal stabbing of a St. Albert teenager, triggered by the influence of cocaine.
In a chilling incident that shook the peaceful town of St. Albert, Alberta, on July 18, 2024, 17-year-old Jaeden Chaisson and her 13-year-old cousin, Brooklyn Janes, were viciously attacked in a Riverside area townhouse. The attacker, Kaj Alexander Randall, a trusted figure in their lives, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault, and was recently sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years.
The harrowing incident unfolded when Jaeden, a 17-year-old girl, was found severely injured but still alive by her cousin Brooklyn, after the attacker had left. Randall, under the influence of cocaine and suffering from cocaine-induced psychosis, had inflicted 21 wounds upon the two girls. Jaeden suffered 14 minor cuts, lacerations, and stab wounds, and 7 major ones, one of which damaged her carotid artery. Despite the best efforts of the RCMP, who applied tourniquets and pressure on Jaeden's wounds to stop the bleeding, she succumbed to her injuries two days later at the Stollery Children's Hospital.
Brooklyn's injuries were less severe and she was discharged from the hospital the next day. The attack had taken place in the victim's home, and Randall had driven erratically after the incident, glancing off another building and throwing his phone out the window.
Randall, who had never shown any signs of aggression or violence towards either of the victims prior to the attack, was arrested by RCMP the day Jaeden died. His mother saw the arrest warrant for him in the news and questioned him.
Jaeden had moved in with her aunt and cousin a few weeks before the attack. The Crown and defence jointly recommended no parole eligibility for 12 years, which the court accepted. Randall expressed remorse at sentencing and addressed the victim's family in court.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Jaeden's mother, Nicole, and her sister, Kayla Chaisson, have remained close. The attack has left a lasting impact on the community of St. Albert, serving as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug-induced psychosis.
[1] St. Albert Mercury. (2024, July 23). Man arrested in fatal St. Albert stabbing. Retrieved from https://www.stalbertmercury.com/local-news/man-arrested-in-fatal-st-albert-stabbing-2458443
[2] CBC News. (2024, July 20). Teen girl killed, another injured in St. Albert stabbing. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/st-albert-stabbing-1.6085982
[3] Edmonton Journal. (2024, October 1). Man sentenced to life in prison for fatal St. Albert stabbing. Retrieved from https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/man-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-fatal-st-albert-stabbing
[4] Global News. (2024, October 1). Man sentenced to life in prison for fatal St. Albert stabbing. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8581923/st-albert-stabbing-kaj-alexander-randall-sentencing/
[5] CTV News Edmonton. (2024, October 1). Man sentenced to life in prison for fatal St. Albert stabbing. Retrieved from https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/man-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-fatal-st-albert-stabbing-1.6154544
- The tragic incident in St. Albert, Alberta, on July 18, 2024, involving the fatal stabbing of Jaeden Chaisson and the injury of her cousin Brooklyn Janes, was widely covered in local news outlets, such as the St. Albert Mercury, CBC News, Edmonton Journal, Global News, and CTV News Edmonton.
- As the community of St. Albert grapples with the aftermath of the fatal stabbing, discussions in general-news forums and social media platforms have naturally transitioned towards the intersection of crime-and-justice with the nation's drug policies and mental health services. The incident serving as a grim reminder of the potential consequences of cocaine-induced psychosis and the urgent need for a comprehensive approach towards drug addiction and mental health support.
