Randy Druken struggled to overcome trauma, betrayal and addictions, brother says | 24CA News
When Randy Druken is laid to relaxation in St. John’s on Wednesday, a major chapter of the Druken household historical past will come to an finish. And whereas Patrick Druken might be glad to see the gossip and notoriety settle down as soon as once more, he hopes elements of his brother’s legacy dwell on.
Randy Druken spent almost seven years in jail for the homicide of his girlfriend, Brenda Young, earlier than proof got here to mild suggesting he was harmless. It could be one other seven years earlier than the provincial authorities acknowledged his wrongful conviction and compensated him to the tune of $2.1 million.
But it is what occurred after, Patrick says, that deserves to be remembered.
He was left alone, to his personal vices, after 14 years of hell.
“It’s an opportunity for the government to make some sort of program,” Patrick mentioned in a dialog with 24CA News on Tuesday. “They need some sort of professional help.”
After paying his lawyer and caring for different money owed, Patrick mentioned Randy walked away with just a little over $1 million in 2006. It ought to have been sufficient for him to dwell comfortably for the remainder of his life, however Patrick mentioned Randy’s experiences left him struggling in almost each side of his life — notably with medicine, alcohol and funds.
He mentioned to me one time, ‘Try to visualise this. You’re in jail, and the folks which might be there sitting with you and telling you ways sorry they’re to your scenario, are those who’re accountable.– Patrick Druken
The Druken household story goes again a long time, earlier than two high-profile killings and private issues performed out within the media. In an op-ed printed in The Independent in 2005, Patrick wrote in regards to the origins of their struggles — “The children watched as their family was torn apart by alcoholism,” he wrote. “When their mother suffered a nervous breakdown, they ended up in orphanages and foster homes, suffering various forms of abuse at the hands of those entrusted to protect them.” Speaking on Tuesday, Patrick mentioned that included abuse on the infamous Mount Cashel Orphanage.
Patrick — the oldest — feels he obtained off the best. He cleaned up after one prison conviction within the Nineteen Eighties, and has fought to remain sober ever since. He labored within the oil trade within the United States and Newfoundland till his retirement in 2015.
He tried a number of occasions to intervene together with his siblings, however might by no means appear to assist them get on the precise path for lengthy. Gerry and Paul died of drug overdoses in 1991 and 1999 respectively. Derek was killed in 1996, shot to loss of life by his brother Jody within the car parking zone of a downtown St. John’s pharmacy.
Randy additionally struggled from a younger age. He had simply been launched from jail in 1991, after serving two years for a stabbing, when he started courting 24-year-old Brenda Young. His life was turned the other way up two years later, when Young was stabbed to loss of life and he was thrust into the center of a police investigation.
Randy Druken was charged with first-degree homicide, and located responsible in 1995. The case was constructed round circumstantial proof — Druken’s historical past of violence, together with earlier cases of assaulting Young, and statements from a jailhouse informant who later mentioned he was bullied by police.
In 2001, CBC Radio broke news that DNA collected on the scene belonged to Randy’s brother, Paul. A public inquiry after Randy’s attraction revealed the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary had sufficient proof to cost Paul with Young’s homicide, however he was already lifeless by that time. Police additionally revealed Derek had been a police informant within the case.
Patrick mentioned no sum of money might restore the sting Randy felt from being betrayed by his brothers.
“He said to me one time, ‘Try to visualize this. You’re in prison, and the people that are there sitting with you and telling you how sorry they are for your situation, are the ones who are responsible.”
Death appeared pure, household says
The household started to fade from the general public eye after 2006, however Randy continued to have run-ins with the legislation within the years after his homicide conviction was overturned.
“When anger consumes you, it binds you to everything else,” Patrick mentioned. “You have to look at things from a place of compassion to really begin to grow.”
Patrick mentioned his brother’s loss of life has compelled him to confront an advanced dichotomy — all his siblings had been victims of their upbringings, however they every had alternatives to show their lives round. While he typically felt Randy selected to “live by a certain code,” Patrick mentioned it wasn’t that straightforward. Everyone processed their experiences in their very own means, he mentioned, and for Randy it was more durable than most.
After burying 4 relations as a result of drug overdoses, Patrick mentioned he anxious they’d discover Randy the identical means. If there’s some solace in his loss of life, Patrick mentioned it is that he seems to have died from pure causes.
“The medical examiner told me he died in his sleep, and that it was a peaceful death and it wasn’t an overdose,” he mentioned.
His funeral is slated for Wednesday at 2 p.m., at Caul’s Funeral Home in St. John’s. The household is asking for donations to the Canadian Mental Health Association — the group Patrick says deserves extra funding to assist somebody in the event that they find yourself in a scenario like Randy’s.
“I like to think it can’t happen again,” he mentioned. “But it can.”
