Faith Hagen advocates for lifelong imprisonment for individuals responsible for taking someone’s life, stating they should not be granted a second chance, as her mother, Tiffani Ellert, did not have that opportunity after being killed in Moose Jaw, Sask. Ellert, 42, was residing with Todd Donaldson, who had recently served a prison term, when she was killed. Donaldson had previously been sentenced to eight years for the manslaughter of Logan Ring in Swift Current, Sask., in 2016.
Hagen, 24, emotionally recalled her close bond with her mother, whom she communicated with daily via text. When the messages abruptly ceased in December, Hagen’s concerns grew. Despite alerting authorities and urging them to search the residence where her mother lived with Donaldson, the police reportedly did not find reasonable grounds to investigate.
After Ellert was reported missing and her body was later discovered on the property by a concerned neighbor, police deemed her death suspicious, leading to Donaldson’s arrest for second-degree murder. Hagen criticized the initial police response, suggesting her mother’s case was not taken seriously due to preconceptions about her lifestyle.
Donaldson, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in another case, was charged with second-degree murder in Ellert’s death. His legal proceedings have been ongoing, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November. Despite previous convictions, Donaldson had been released from prison after serving his sentence, triggering deep distress for Hagen and raising questions about the justice system’s handling of violent offenders.
Hagen emphasized her mother’s love for her children and her readiness to embark on a path of rehabilitation before her tragic demise. Determined to ensure her mother’s story is heard, Hagen shared it as a cautionary tale, underscoring the importance of justice and preventing such tragedies from recurring.