Article contentOn their floor, Ahrens’ sister got out and put her hand out to help their mother out. However, the doors closed. A search throughout the hotel began for Ahrens’ mother.Article contentTom Justice, a U.S. Homeland Security officer staying at the same hotel, is believed to have found Ahrens’ mother.Article contentIn an email to the Cape Breton Post in February 2024, Kyle Burns, a spokesman for Homeland Security, said Justice is a special agent assigned to the Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte field office and they were “aware of the actions SA (special agent) Justice undertook while on temporary duty and are proud of the way he went above and beyond to protect the welfare of others. His actions are in keeping with the highest standards of this agency.”Article contentWhen the victim was found, she was allegedly in a hotel elevator holding her underwear.Article content“My sister ran over to my mother and asked very, very difficult questions. The answers were horrendous,” Ahrens said during an interview in February 2024.Article contentArticle content David Ahrens is his mother’s litigation representative and legal guardian as the 83-year-old woman has advanced Alzheimer’s disease. He said he won’t stop fighting for justice for his mother who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault while on vacation in the Bahamas in 2024. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentFRUSTRATED WITH LACK OF COMMUNICATIONArticle contentSince the alleged assault, Ahrens said his mother’s health declined and she has since moved into a long-term care home where she is safe.Article contentAhrens speaks with her regularly through video calls and travels from his home in the United States to visit.Article contentAhrens said he has co-operated fully with the prosecution and tracked down information they asked him to get, such as medical records.Article contentHowever, he questions why DNA evidence the family presented to them shortly after the alleged assault wasn’t sent for testing sooner.Article content“They just don’t communicate effectively when I ask for updates,” he said. “Often the requests go without a response from them … I have to remind them two and three and four and five times. Then I usually have to escalate to a team of five people within the Office of Prosecution, then I get a response saying someone will get back to you today, and then I don’t get that response today; I get that response maybe tomorrow or the next day.”Article contentArticle contentSince Ahrens has to travel to the Bahamas for the case, he needs to book flights and accommodations. When the trial was adjourned the first time, Ahrens said the last-minute cancellation with the hotel was subject to a $2,000 fee. However, they waived this and told him they will accommodate him when he gets a confirmed date for the trial.Article content“The hotel has been great,” he said, noting they’ve co-operated with many requests the family has had since the assault.Article contentWhile he did lose some money when he booked the first flight, Ahrens now waits to purchase his air travel due to the adjournments.Article contentThis time, he was notified on Aug. 5 that the trial would not start on Aug. 17. Having to wait until the last minute to book his flights will be costly, but Ahrens said he and his family won’t back down until his mother gets justice.Article content“The level of support that we get as a family shows me that we’ll be on the right side of justice and that justice will be served,” Ahrens said.Article content“At the very least, we want this trial to happen and have our day in court. And I will absolutely not stop pushing until all of that happens.”Article content
Trial postponed for Cape Breton man charged with sexual assault in Bahamas
