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Sept. 29/92 To Whom It May Concern, Gabriel and I were really close friends. We were like sisters resulting from Paul and Gabe renting my brother's trailer in '88. Paul and Gabe were part of our family, attending family dinners, kids' birthdays, etc. When Paul was killed June 13/92 I was available to Gabe at all times, even hiring someone to run our video store in Cremona that my husband and I own and operate. I was therefore a witness and Gabe's confidante as to the people involved in her life. What was most appalling was the destruction of the relationships between Gabe and her in-laws. I had always thought Dan Hansen (father-in-law) to be over-bearing, arrogant and self-indulgent, but was still shocked to see how he totally lacked a conscience. Paul's grandmother left $3,000 or $4,000 for Gabe and the kids after Paul's funeral. She, unfortunately, left it with Dan, and to my knowledge, Gabe never seen a cent of that money. Gabe told me that Dan said he needed that money, and more, for expenses. A "summer cottage" and a new car, "just like the one Dan picked out for Gabe", that the Hansens were "someday" going to have, suddenly became, "by next spring" immediately following Paul's death. When Gabe and I talked about this, she said, "They just automatically think they're entitled to the money after the lawsuit is settled. They're not concerned about the kids and me." Following Dan's instructions, I had him billed for Paul's obituary when I phoned it in to the Calgary Herald and Sun. I had to pay for the local papers, which Dan never offered to reimburse me for; and as recorded in Gabe's chequebook; he made her pay for the Herald ($93.00) and the Sun ($54.00). Gabriel was extremely upset when she received word from Dan that he had bought (with Gabe's money) a "family plot" at Eagle Bay, BC for Paul and her; an urn, and that they were all going to BC the August weekend of the 8th to bury Paul; all arranged without consulting her. Gabe refused, pleading she wasn't ready, so the date was postponed to October. Carol (sister-in-law) was really nasty to Gabe because they had booked off the weekend in August. Dan wanted Gabe's truck, and after "borrowing" it for a trip to Edmonton to pick up materials for their "soon-to-be" summer cottage, he refused to return it until Gabe got really insistent, and told him he could buy it for $2,000. The weekend before Gabe was killed (august 8th - 9th) I informed Gabe that both Lynne (mother-in-law) and Carol (sister-in-law) had been phoning me trying to track her down, wanting Sahra's (friend) number in Olds where Gabe had stayed for a few days that week. Gabe said, "No, don't give them Sahra's number,k whatever you do. Don't tell them where I am even. All they want is money, and to control my life. I don't want to talk to any of them. We had a big fight the last time I talked to them. I haven't spoken to Carol for a couple of weeks now, since she was hinting for money, and saying, 'obviously the wrong child died, cause nobody cares about me.' My relationship with them is over. They are nothing to me. They're still the kids' relatives, but I don't want them around the kids to influence. All they care about is the money. That's all they want. They aren't concerned about me or the kids." Gabe said she used to "bug" Paul by telling him he was becoming an "asshole" like his dad. He'd reply that he was nothing like him and never would be. When we talked about the kids being in Invermere with Gabe's parents, Gabe said, "My parents and I are finally getting close after all these years. They've been great through all this. I know the kids are well looked after with them, spoilt rotten, in fact." I realize I'm an unknown and these are just words on paper, but judging by what Gabriels told me and what I've heard and seen, I truly believe Rebecca and Christina would be better off left with the Pentzes. They will have a more secure and happy upbringing, and will develop into better, kinder people as adults. Dan and Lynne, Carol and Andy all work outside of the home, the Pentzes don't. Carol and Andy are so young, married not even two years, having their own kids to plan for and acquire. If Carol and Andy get custody of the kids, Dan and Lynne will undoubtedly be the controlling factor, and will assuredly end up raising the kids themselves. Carol and Andy are no match against Dan; as Lynne isn't and Gabe wasn't. I am convinced that the "Hansens" want the kids for the money they represent; as that's all Gabe found out she meant to them. Gabe has already given her vote as to where she thought the kids would be better off when she took them to her parents two and one-half weeks before she died. Leanne Jahnke |