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My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

Marjorie Bletcher , Canada
Date Posted: 03/27/08
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Today a Mexican judge ruled that Brenda Martin, 51, is guilty and sentenced her to five years in prison. Brenda Martin is a Canadian woman who was arrested in Mexico on February 17, 2006. She is accused of helping her employer Alyn Waage defraud $60 million through an Internet investment scam, which affected 15,000 people from around the world. Brenda, who was Waage's chef, has always maintained her innocence, yet had not had a trial in the two years she spent at a Guadalajara prison. Martin may return to Canada within the next few weeks, because of a special extradition agreement between Canada and Mexico.

This is the story of Brenda's mother's anguish. Marjorie Bletcher already lost one daughter to a car accident and says she cannot lose another. She is devastated by this outcome. Orato.com spoke to Marjorie Bletcher when she said she still had some hope that her daughter's innocence would set her free. Read the SaveBrendaFund.ca press release.

The day I found out Brenda was in trouble was a very bad day in my life. I got a phone call about two months after she was incarcerated in Mexico. When she called, she asked me, “Mom, are you sitting down?” When she said that, I knew it had to be something really bad. She said, “You better sit down mom. I’m in a Mexican jail.”

Growing up Brenda loved people; she liked to cook…she still likes to cook. I always called her my butterfly because she was a free spirit. She had two marriages, but both of these husbands have stuck behind her, which says something about her character. She and her last ex-husband honeymooned in Puerto Vallarta and she loved it, so that’s where my butterfly landed.

I would have rather had her in Canada, but I’ve always tried, with all my children, to give them freedom. When they’re little, you can mould them to a certain extent, but when they get older, you have to let them go and let them learn by their own trial and errors. I love all my kids dearly and they always know they can come to me whenever.

The first person Brenda called when she was incarcerated was her ex-husband. She just thought she would be in and out, and she knew I’m a bit of a worry wart, so she figured it wouldn’t be good to trouble me. When I found out, I just thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding; this can’t be possible.’ With that, she was gone, and I just went berserk.

Soon after I got a call from her ex-husband Don, and he gave me the file number and the 1-800 number in Ottawa to call about her case.


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Re: My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

By vcc, April 26, 2008 at 10:58

Ok, then…First I do feel badly for Brenda’s mother, I really do. It is so stressful for her. But…do any of you well-meaning people even know Brenda? I do and it ain’t pretty. Haven't you wondered why not too many people who have known her all these years in Puerto Vallarta have stepped up to her cause? I do doubt that she knew much about Mr. Waage’s business when she was working for him as he would not risk divulging his schemes to his staff, especially those who were often drunk and nasty as Brenda could be. Trust me, we all went into "duck and cover" mode when we saw her coming. What I do believe is that she finally angered enough important people in Mexico that they used her past connections to get rid of her arrogance and belligerance once and for all.
Why is everyone jumping on this bandwagon? Brenda hasn’t lived or paid taxes in Canada for more than 10 years and probably wasn’t planning on it ever again. Now she has all this political mess happening and feels it is her right. I am glad that all of you boycotting Mexico don’t plan on going there. They are better off without your attitudes. What right have you to tell them how to run their country? Come on, there are much better causes to spend all this energy on. Give your heads a shake please.

Re: My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

By johnhatch, April 13, 2008 at 16:15

It's so obvious that Brenda Martin is innocent. And what does our government do? It leaks information to slander her because she dared to complain about its feeble efforts on her behalf.. A boycott of Mexico is a good idea. Also let's get after the Canadian government as well.

Re: My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

By Robyn Stubbs, March 28, 2008 at 13:38

I could feel this woman's pain and worry as I read this piece - nothing adds up and it's terrifying to know that our representatives have done nothing about it: Why is she being held for YEARS in a foreign country without so much as a trial? I'm glad this story is finally seeing the light of day, because it's something the Canadian public needs to know about. I have no faith in our current government and firmly believe that a happy ending for Brenda and her family will only come about through international scrutiny and public pressure.

Re: My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

By Heather Wallace, March 28, 2008 at 14:15

This was the very first interview that actually made me cry. I was sniffling on the phone with this poor woman, hoping she wouldn't notice. She sounded so tormented...I hope she's reunited with her long lost daughter. Hang in there Brenda...Your mom needs you.

Re: My Daughter Is Languishing In A Mexican Prison

By Heather Wallace, March 27, 2008 at 19:33

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as a leader, is a joke. It's times like these when we really do need our government to be our voice, and yet it has to be pressured to act through the media.

I think Canadians, and everyone, should boycott Mexico until it, AT THE VERY LEAST, gives Brenda Martin a fair trial.

Heather Wallace
senior editor
Orato.com

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