Saskatchewan man recalls traumatic events 10 years later

A heart-wrenching anniversary for now 20-year-old Zach Miller.

The weekend of July 30 marks 10 years since he was kidnapped and repeatedly sexually assaulted by Peter Whitmore.

The event was the subject of Saskatchewan’s first ever Amber Alert and lasted just over two days.

Miller sought to have the publication ban on his name lifted so he could tell his story and help prevent what happened to him from happening to anyone else.

He admits the anniversary each year doesn’t get easier.

“It just hurts some days, not like an actual pain, it is just in my head, but it still hurts,” he said. “My ankles still bear the scars of being chained to the bed.

He remembers the sheer terror he felt for the two days he was trapped in an abandoned farmhouse.

“Just being able to think that you are not going to be able to see anybody you love and care for anymore, not be able to talk to anyone and just feeling this dread that you are gone,” Miller described.

In 2007, Whitmore was convicted of his crimes and is serving a life sentence, although he is now eligible for parole.

Not surprisingly Miller remains shocked by that.

“He shouldn’t have a future, especially such a dangerous offender as he is, he has been to prison nine times and they let him out nine times,” he maintained.

“What does that say about the system that we have here, does that protect our children from people like him.”