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Abbotsford Police release new documentary

"Parenting Matters," part of the Operation Lodestar series, is launched on May 16.
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Bobby Digeorgio


The mom of a murdered man shares her son’s story in a documentary being released next week by the Abbotsford Police.

The production, called “Operation Lodestar: Parenting Matters,” will be featured at a free public screening on Wednesday, May 16 at Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (MCA).

Const. Ian MacDonald said the 30-minute film includes Ev Holt discussing the murder of her son, 24-year-old Bobby Digeorgio, whose body was found in a burned-out car in an Abbotsford berry field in late August 2009.

His girlfriend, Jessica Illes, 23, was found dead three days later in the basement suite of a home on McConachie Place.

Both were involved in criminal and drug activity, and were believed to have links to the Red Scorpions gang and the Bacon brothers. No arrests have been made in either of their deaths.

Digeorgio’s story is interspersed with dialogue from four experts in the field of relationships and youth: Dr. Dave Currie, president of Doing Family Right; psychologist Dr. Susan Goldsmith; Dale Pretty, a school psychologist with the Abbotsford school district; and Iona Snair, who has been involved in youth work for the past 30 years, most recently through a program of Youth Unlimited.

The production is an offshoot of the Operation Lodestar forums and posters that were presented by Abbotsford Police in late 2010. The series was aimed at helping parents to support their kids in making good choices in life.

MacDonald said the documentary hopes to do the same.

“The common message ... is that you have to do what you can, whenever you can, because it’s all going to make a difference,” he said.

The premiere takes place at 7 p.m. MCA is located at 32315 South Fraser Way. Free DVD copies of the film will be available in both English and Punjabi.

The documentary will also be posted on the Abbotsford Police Department website (abbypd.ca) and on the APD YouTube channel.



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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