For What It's Worth
This is my rough transcript of the Press Conference which was published Tuesday July 12, 2016 at 2:14, in which the family of 5 year old Taliyah Marsman and her mother Sara Baillie (deceased) speak about the Amber Alert regarding Taliyah's apparent abduction following the murder of her mother.
You can see the video at this site for CBC News, Calgary.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/amber-alert-calgary-girl-1.3674808
This transcript is my own work, and I am responsible for any and all errors it may contain. It is not connected in any way to the CBC, the CPS, the families of the victims, or the news organizations attending the conference.
SH = Scott Hamilton (great uncle of Taliyah Leigh Marsman, uncle of Sara Baillie)
MH = Marilynne Hamilton (wife of Scott Hamilton, aunt of Sara Baillie, great aunt of Taliyah)
JA = Jo-Anne, a friend or member of the extended family.
SH: Hi everyone. Let me introduce…this is Mrs. Marilynne Hamilton, Taliyah's aunt, sorry, she's Sara's aunt.
I'm Scott Hamilton, uncle. This is cousin to Sara, Justin Hamilton. And these are all friends of Sara's…We're here today and holding this press conference on behalf of Sara Baillie. We've lost a niece, a sister, a daughter, and a mother within the last twelve hours . God rest her soul.
We're also here to plead to those who've taken Taliyah Leigh Marsman, Sara's daughter. Please return her. Drop her off at an R.C.M.P. station, a Calgary Police Services Station, or a grocery store, gas station, wherever you want. Contact the family, we'll come and pick her up. There'll be no questions asked.
We love her. We miss her. And, we want her back.
Marilynne, do you have something to say to Taliyah?
MH: Taliyah, honey, if you're watching this, I love you. Stay strong, honey. Please, please if you have Taliyah, please let her come home to her family.
SH: We miss her. And we love her. I don't know if there's anybody else who wants to add anything, but we are willing to take questions.
But remember, this is about Taliyah. We want her back.
2: 23 REPORTER One (
Please note: Sometimes, with the limited sound on my computer, I could not hear all that was said in the Reporter questions segments.) Do you have a message to the public as well about any details that, you know, someone might see or hear, anything to--what is your message to the public?
SH: The message to the public is to contact the CPS. Get in touch with them. They've got numerous people involved in this investigation and they're doing their best. And we want them to do their best and bring her home.
2:48 REPORTER Two: Can you tell us a little bit about Sara?
RH: Absolutely. Sara was a beautiful young woman who was single-handedly, pretty much, raising her daughter. And we love her, and we miss her.
3:05 REPORTER Three: Can you tell us anything about what Taliyah is like?
RH: Taliyah is a vivacious, wonderful child -- curious. She lives in our hearts when we're not with her, and she's in our thoughts also.
3:25 REPORTER Four: Can you tell us about what Taliyah likes to do?
RH: Taliyah has many interests. One would be just on her iPad. Another would be Marilynne has just recently taught her to ride a bicycle. The bicycle sits in our garage waiting for her to come back. Jo-Anne? Sure.
3:54 JA: Taliyah is not your average five year old little girl. She's very mature. So, if you ever got to talk to her, or you saw her, you wouldn't know she's five. You'd think she's more seven, eight years old. She's taller than most kids, and she's very mature, so if anyone does see her, don't be looking for that average five year old child. She's more than that.
RH: Yes, and just, and a word to the media. Her name is Ta-LEE-yah. If you call her TA-lee-uh, she probably will not answer, so it's Ta-LEE-yah. Ta-LEE-yah Marsman. She will answer to that.
4:32 REPORTER Five: Can you talk just a little bit about how important Taliyah was to Sara and their relationship?
RH: Taliyah was Sara's world. Still is. Sara still lives with all of us onstage. Pardon me. She uh, she was..Sara was a hard working single mother and doing the very best that she could with what she had.
5:02 REPORTER Six: When you talk about your extended family, it sounds like you're all very involved.
RH: Absolutely. Absolutely. Most positively would be my wife, Marilynne, Sara's aunt who cared for Taliyah occasionally overnight. Taliyah would have sleepovers with Auntie, and that's how she would refer to Marilynne as Auntie. We miss her.
5:22 REPORTER Seven: I know this is very difficult, but can you tell us about some of those times and some of those? You know, we just really want people to know as much as possible.
RH: Absolutely. Taliyah would come over. She would have supper with us. Always engaging. Always wanting to watch cartoons while perhaps someone else, like myself, would want to watch the news but that was OK because it was Taliyah. She was allowed to do that. Others wouldn't be. She would sleep with Marilynne and I untill I snored too much, and then I would have to leave the bed. We miss her. We miss her dearly.
6:04 REPORTER Eight: Could you maybe talk about how, you know, all the family has come together to
RH: Certainly. So, I mean, we've got Ashley Jack who cares for Taliyah at Day Care. We've got Sara's workmates here. We've got extended family of Marilynne and mine. Our friends who know Taliyah and love her as well.
6:36 REPORTER Nine: And how in this, obviously, very difficult time for you, how everybody coming together is making you feel...
RH: For the most part, Marilynne and I have a great support group. All these people here are supporting us in this time and, you know, not that we expected it, but it's welcome.
7:07 REPORTER Ten: Is she in daycare?
RH: Yes. She actually just finished kindergarten. Sara works full time, five days a week so she's in a daycare since school has ended full time.
7 :18 REPORTER Eleven: So she will be going into Grade One?
RH: Correct. In September. She'll turn six in September.
7:26 REPORTER Twelve: I wonder if you could tell me a little bit about how Taliyah and her mom interacted?
RH: Inseparable. Taliyah referred to Sara as "Momma", and it was, it wasn't necessarily a mother/daughter relationship. It was almost like watching two sisters at times get along. Sara worshipped Taliyah. The times that we saw them interact, it was marvellous.
MH: Taliyah worshipped Sara.
RH: Exactly. You're right. So it was a very awesome relationship to see between a mother and daughter.
8:18 REPORTER Thirteen: I know you've addressed this, but you guys are going through the worst emotions possible 'cause you're holding out hope for Taliyah, but--
RH: No, we--she will be found. Some time.
REPORTER: Thank you.
