The towns population in 2011 was just under 5,000 residents.
Taylor lived with her mother and her twin sister, Kirstie.
She had recently graduated high school and was well-liked in the close-knit town.
Taylor Van Diest memorial page
At 6pm, still walking, Taylor sent Colton a text that read Being creeped.
It was the last text message anyone would get from her.
Alarmed, Colton, Zoe and Clay drove around looking for Taylor but did not find her.
Kirstie called Taylors friends and they all went to the area to search for her.
At 8:45pm they found Taylor face-down in a ditch near the railroad tracks.
She was alive, but unconscious.
Halloween was Taylor’s favorite holiday. viaTaylor’s memorial page
Unfortunately, Taylor succumbed to her injuries and died at the hospital.
Tragically, residents of Armstrong had heard Taylor screaming for help but thought that it was just Halloween festivities.
She carried DNA from him underneath her fingernails.
Police sketch and photo of Matthew Foerster, via RCMP.
That case had never been solved.
He was charged with first-degree murder, assault causing bodily harm, and sexual assault for all three attacks.
Matthew Foerster thenconfessed to killing Taylor van Dierst.
He claims he was looking for consensual sex.
A steel pipe found next to Taylor was also used, and resulted in Taylors skull being fractured.
TaylorsDNA was also found in Foersters truck.
Matthew Foerster was convicted of first-degree murder but appealed the decision and was granted a new trial.
He was convicted of onlyseconddegree murder.
This means he will be eligible for parole in 2029.
I dont think he feels remorse.
She also points out that in the killers letter of apology he never once mentioned Taylor by name.
It is now paved and surrounded by flowers and landscaping the community added in Taylors memory.
There is even a bench and an angel statue dedicated to Taylor.
