Forde focus of Belgian film

Some of you have been asking for news about Shawna Forde, the former Everett woman who is accused of orchestrating the killings of a man and his young daughter in Arivaca, Ariz.

This is a story I plan to continue covering as time allows. Forde is from this place. She’s facing a possible death sentence. Even without the Arizona killings, the self-described founder of Minuteman American Defense left a lot of unfinished crime business in Everett before she headed south.

Forde remains locked up in Tucson, her double murder trial now set for January. Separate trials have been ordered for Forde and her two male co-defendants. Lawyers have been sparring over what evidence will be admitted and whether the trial schedule will be followed. Typical stuff.

Meanwhile, the case is getting attention internationally. A nearly hour-long documentary film, “A cycle of fences,” aired earlier this month on Belgian television and soon may be screened at film festivals in the U.S.

Sebastien Wielemans, a director from Brussels, met Forde and briefly filmed her during a 2008 visit to Arizona. She talked with him about Minutemen and grunge rock, claiming an expert’s grasp of border security issues as well as connections to Kurt Cobain, the Nirvana front man who committed suicide in Seattle in 1994. Wielemans was e-mailing with Forde about more interviews when she was charged with the Arivaca killings. Her jailhouse letters to Wielemans provide the spine of his film.

Why “A cycle of fences?”

“This is a title with lots of symbolic meanings,” Wielemans said in an e-mail. “It seems that Shawna, according to most of the people I met, has been involved in several bad situations. Continuously. As if she was inside a vicious cycle. Fences? Well, most of her story speaks about fences: the border, the jail, the difficulties of communication inside her own family. But besides that, everyone has to find his proper sense, or explanation.”

I screened an English-language version of the film this week. Much of the camera work is beautiful, and in places that matter, unflinching about truth. Wielemans doesn’t appear to judge Forde nor the strength of the case. Instead, he studies the people connected to her by blood, friendship, political ideology and something that sure sounds like self promotion. The profiles that emerge are by turns sad and disturbing. By sad, I mean interviews with Forde’s family, who clearly are suffering over their connection to this case. By disturbing, I mean footage of Forde supporter Laine Lawless, filmed blasting away at gun range targets shaped like people and pronouncing it “therapy.”

The killings in Arivaca are why Belgians are now watching a documentary about Shawna Forde. Here’s the detail from court papers that haunts me the most: the gunman was so close when 9-year-old Brisenia Flores was shot that the gun barrel touched the child’s cheek.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

x
$14.5M property tax levy lid lift moves forward in Edmonds

After a public hearing, the City Council voted 5-2 to place the resolution on next week’s consent agenda for final approval.

Mikki Burkholder, left, and Sean Seifert pull drafts Friday afternoon at 5 Rights Brewery in Marysville on October 8, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
5 Rights celebrates 10 years in Marysville

During a challenging time for the US craft beer industry, 5 Rights continues to enjoy growth and an uptick in sales.

Wine is illuminated on a large win rack at the center of the main room at Long Shadows Woodinville Tasting Room & Key Club Lounge on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 in Woodinville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Two winery restaurants in Woodinville stand out

You wouldn’t expect to get world-class pizza at a winery,… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.