Murder trial in Lumby mother's death strains family left behind

The trial of Vitali Stefanski, accused of killing Tatjana Stefanski near Lumby, B.C., is underway in Kamloops. Her partner faces a gruelling commute and financial pressure as proceedings continue.

Lumby murder trial takes heavy toll on grieving family

The second-degree murder trial of Vitali Stefanski, accused of killing Lumby, B.C., mother of two Tatjana Stefanski, is now in its third week in Kamloops, Global News Crime reports. Her partner, Jason Gaudreault, who has become legal guardian of her two children, says the proceedings have reopened deep wounds.

"It's been hard," Gaudreault said. "Tatjana was a beautiful person."

Stefanski's body was found in a forested area near Lumby in April 2024. Her ex-husband, Vitali Stefanski, faces a charge of second-degree murder. The trial was originally set for Vernon but was moved to Kamloops after defence lawyers successfully argued that their client, held at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, needs access to a laptop to review disclosure and evidence — access that would not have been available in RCMP cells in Vernon.

The venue change has created a significant logistical burden for those supporting the family. Gaudreault and others must now make a three-hour round trip from the North Okanagan for each court date.

"We might only be in there for a couple hours, might be in there for an hour and get adjourned and have to drive all the way back again," Gaudreault said.

The travel demands compound financial pressures Gaudreault says he has faced since Stefanski's death. He lost his business in the aftermath and has only recently relaunched it.

"It's tough, very tough, having to line up work schedules with my guys at my shop and my business that I just reopened," he said. "I don't want to lose my business for a second time now."

Community members have stepped in to help. Jen de Bourcier launched a GoFundMe campaign to offset the family's costs, and a former colleague of Stefanski's has pledged to match donations up to $10,000.

"It was very touching and also not surprising," de Bourcier said. "Tatjana, by all accounts, was a very kind person who touched a lot of people."

De Bourcier said the matching pledge is intended to encourage broader participation in the campaign.

Gaudreault says caring for Stefanski's two children gives him the motivation to push through the pressures of the trial and the demands of rebuilding his life.

"Tatjana's children only have me in Canada," he said. "I just want to provide the best life I can because her children deserve it."

The trial is scheduled to run for five weeks in total.

Source: Global News Crime