In the early morning of March 25, 2015, the body of 18-year old Canadian woman Brittney Gargol was found strangled to death, BBC News reports. Nearly three years later, in a twisted turn of events, Gargol’s killer has been sentenced to seven years for manslaughter—all thanks to a selfie between the two best friends that was posted to Facebook, revealing the murder weapon.
Cheyenne Antoine, now 21, pleaded guilty to killing her friend on Monday according to the Toronto Sun, although she doesn’t remember the actual events of the killing. What she does remember was that the pair of friends were drunk and high on marijuana, getting into a heated argument after attending a house party together, according to BBC News. Her last memory was leaving the party with Gargol, who took her phone, says the Saskatoon StarPhoenix.
“I will never forgive myself. Nothing I say or do will ever bring her back. I am very, very sorry… It shouldn’t have ever happened,” Antoine said in a statement that was read in court by defense lawyer Lisa Watson.
The case was “quite mysterious” for about two years, according to a reporter for the StarPhoenix, as Antoine did attempt to divert police from the truth. Her original story was that the two friends went from the house party to some bars, where Antoine then left to go spend time with her uncle, who she asked to go along with her alibi, while Gargol left with an “unidentified” man, according to BBC News.
Antoine even went as far as to leave a Facebook trail, posting a message on Gargol’s Facebook page the morning her body was found: “Where are you? Haven’t heard from you. Hope you made it home safe.”
However, Facebook did leave some truth behind as well, as police noticed in a selfie posted to Facebook only six hours before Gargol’s body was found that Antoine was wearing the same belt that was found near to Gargol’s body, which was dumped on the side of the road by Cedar Villa Estates, according to the StarPhoenix. Someone eventually came forward to Gargol’s family, who said that Antoine came to their home, intoxicated and hysterical, confessing to the crime.
Due to her confession and visible remorse, judge Marilyn Gray sentenced Antoine to seven years for manslaughter rather than her original charge of second-degree murder.
“Honor your friend by becoming a positive member of the community,” said Gray. “You owe it to her.”
Watson cited Antoine’s “deep personal issues,” as she has reportedly suffered years of abuse at the hands of her foster parents.