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David Milgaard

Written in: Grade 7 | Year: 2006

In his Zippo lighter, he sees the killer's face maybe it's someone standing in the killer's place, twenty years for nothing, well that's nothing new besides, no one's interested in something you didn't do. Wheat kings and pretty things lets just see what tomorrow brings Maybe you have heard “wheat kings” by the tragically hip, but have you ever really listened to what the lyrics were saying?

Good morning/afternoon Miss. Oliver and class mates, this year for my speech I have chosen David Milgaard. David was born in Winnipeg Manitoba, and in 1970, and at the age of 17, David was convicted for the 1969 attack and brutal murder of 20 year old nursing assistant, Gail Miller.

It all started January 31,1969 when David and two new found friends, Ron Wilson and Nichol John decided to take a road trip across the Canadian Prairies to visit Albert Cadran, who lived in
Saskatoon. The friends were hoping Albert could come up with some money for marijuana, but soon found themselves stuck in a snowstorm and very cold temperatures. They got lost on the way to Albert’s and asked for directions. The friends were headed down a back alley when David saw a car that was stuck. He persuaded Ron-who was driving, to stop and help. In trying to free the vehicle, which was owned by a man named Walter DanChuck, the boys soon found themselves stuck.

DanChuck offered for them to stay at his house until a tow truck arrived. But at 8:30 that morning, the frozen body of nursing assistant Gail Miller was found in a snow bank about a block and a half from Albert’s house.

Finally at 9:00 am the three friends arrived at Albert’s tiny bungalow house. Although the house looked far too small to have a basement apartment, it did which was rented by a couple, Larry and Linda Fisher. Larry had been out all night and missed work that morning, which was out of the ordinary, considering Larry was a workaholic. When he finally returned home much later that morning, Linda curiously could not find her kitchen
paring knife and had already heard of the Gail Miller murder on the radio, and sarcastically said “my kitchen paring knife is missing. You’re probably the one who’s out stabbing that girl.” Linda didn’t really mean it, but was mad at Larry for coming
home so late, yet found his reaction disturbing. The colour drained from his face and looked shocked and scared, almost as if what Linda said was true. Oddly enough, a knife involved in the murder was a 6 inch paring knife. Too bad for police they didn’t hear Linda’s story until years later, after they had convicted the wrong person.

David’s life changed when Albert was arrested that winter. He told officers he was in Saskatoon with David, Ron and Nichol the day Gail Miller’s body was found. He said none of them had anything to do with it, but back in Saskatoon, Albert’s imagination started to run wild. He told his brother that he had seen blood on David’s pants and shirt. Albert’s story was far from true, but soon David was under investigation by police.

Although police suspected David, it was almost impossible for him to have murdered Gail Miller in the 15 minute time period it took to get from Walter’s house to Albert’s. But Ron and Nichol were about to prove that wrong.

At first, both told police similar stories to Albert’s, that David was innocent. After showing horrific photos of Gail Miller’s body to Nichol, she was not charged but was locked up overnight. That night, Nichol couldn’t take it anymore. She cracked. Although nothing of what she said was true, it was exactly what the police wanted to hear that David was the murderer and finally had a lead. But Nichol wasn’t the only
one who lied. On the day of the trial, Albert told the jury that he had seen blood on David’s shirt and pants, and that as soon as David got to his house, he wanted to change and saw him throw his bloody clothes away. For this, Albert got a $2000 dollar reward. This was especially hard for David because these people were supposed to be his friends and they were lying. Not juts one lie, it was lie after lie after lie, and all David could do was sit there and watch his freedom flash before his eyes, but it wasn’t just his freedom, it was his reputation as well. He would be going to jail for something he never and would never even think of doing.

It was January 31, a year after Gail Miller’s murder and after eleven hours of waiting for the verdict, it was finally looking good for the Milgaard family. It was going to be the day David’s name was cleared and wouldn’t have to spend the rest of
his life in jail. Or so they thought.

It was final, David was going to spend the rest of his life behind bars. In jail, all David had left was his family and God. But most importantly, his family. Joyce Milgaard- David’s mother, fought 20 long hard years to free her son from jail, and everyday she tried to get a lead on who really killed Gail Miller.

July 18th, 1997 was the happiest day of both Joyce and David Milgaard’s life, it was the day David would go home. After over 23 long years in prison, the Supreme Court of Canada set aside his conviction. Five years later he was cleared by DNA evidence and was awarded $10 million dollars. In the same year, Larry Fisher was found guilty of the death of Gail Miller. Police finally caught the right person when Joyce Milgaard approached Linda Fisher, who had long since divorced Larry and got the whole story straight.

David Milgaard’s story has taught me a very important lesson-you don’t know what you have until it’s gone, so spend your time wisely and live your life to the fullest because you never know what the future holds.

Thank-you.

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Approx. Time 4:45