‘A heart of gold’: Perth mourns the loss of 15-year-old Reese Stanzel
The Town of Perth, and the extended Lanark County community, is mourning the loss of Reese Stanzel, 15, who was located deceased the area of North Street North and Sherbrooke Street West, Perth, on Friday, Oct. 25.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, Lanark OPP reported that a 16-year-old is facing a murder charge in connection to the death. The suspect cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
In a comment posted to Facebook, Emily Coutts stated “He was my cousin. My best friend. They took him from me. He saved my life so many times. Nobody can mend this broken heart of mine, I have felt no greater pain then the moment I found out his heart stopped beating, and mine carried on.”
Chris and Cheryl Wood, owners of The Butcher’s Edge in Perth, posted to the business’ page a photo of their grandson Reese proudly holding up a fish caught during happier times. “Bullying has to stop,” the post reads. “This should not have happened.”
A Go Fund Me started over the weekend to support Stanzel’s family during this difficult time had raised over $10,500 by mid-morning on Monday, Oct. 28.
“Reese was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, co-worker and friend to many,” states Cory Wilson, organizer of the fundraiser. “Reese had a heart of gold and wouldn’t think twice in helping anyone around him.”
Wilson says Reese had a passion for hunting and fishing, and you would often see him biking around Perth, walking to and from school and greeting customers while working at The Butcher’s Edge.
Reese attended elementary school at Glen Tay Public School, and then high school at Perth District Collegiate Institute.
“Reese’s dream after high school was to become a police officer and help people,” Wilson says in the Go Fund Me. “Reese will be missed deeply by all who were a part of his life.”
Funds raised, he says, will “help alleviate some of the financial burdens” his family now faces such as funeral expenses, loss of work and any other costs associated with the loss.