Brandy Vittrekwa
Nearly five months after the body of a native girl was discovered on a Whitehorse walking trail, a teenaged male has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing that shook the local First Nation community and triggered all available RCMP resources.
Brandy Vittrekwa, who was just two months shy of her 18th birthday, was found dead in the Yukon capital's Kwanlin Dun First Nation community on Dec. 8, tragically joining the more than 1,180 aboriginal women who have been killed or gone missing in Canada over the past three decades. In a territory that saw zero homicides in each of the three years prior, her death marked the second killing in Whitehorse's McIntyre subdivision in just six months.
In a statement Wednesday, the Yukon RCMP said the Major Crime Unit had arrested a youth Tuesday, bringing relief to a community whose chief had been pressing the federal force for answers. The youth, who cannot be named because he is a minor, appeared in court Wednesday and was charged with second-degree murder. A publication ban has been ordered and the next court date is set for May 7.
The victim's father, Clarence Snowshoe, told The Globe and Mail late Wednesday afternoon the arrest has brought the family "a bit of closure."
The RCMP would not clarify whether the individual is the same suspect in the case who was in custody in mid-December on unrelated charges, saying the force cannot release any information that could lead to identification. Police said last year the suspect's "connection to the incident continues to be examined and clarified by investigators."
Kwanlin Dun's chief, Doris Bill, said the accused is a 15-year-old male and is a member of a different First Nation in the territory. "The community is very relieved," she said. "I'm glad for her family. I hope this brings them some measure of peace."
A spokeswoman for the Yukon coroner's office said the autopsy and toxicology analysis have been performed, but she declined to comment further citing the homicide investigation and court process.
Brandy Vittrekwa's death coincided with a ramped-up RCMP presence in the community amid security concerns. In the statement Wednesday, the force thanked those who "have contributed to the safety of their community by providing information that has assisted the police with this investigation."
Ms. Bill said the community has taken steps to improve security, including replacing burned-out streetlights and blocking the walking trail's entrance with a snow mound during the winter. Discussions are also under way to potentially shutter the wooded path and to create a safety patrol program.
The victim's mother, Norine Vittrekwa, told The Globe in December that a pair of RCMP officers knocked on her door around 5 a.m. on Dec. 9, a day after her daughter had been reported missing. They wanted to know what the 17-year-old had been wearing the last time she saw her, on Dec. 7. Norine Vittrekwa got official word of the death hours later.
"I don't know what happened to her," she said at the time. "That's what I need to know. And I need to see her. To say goodbye." The teen left behind an 11-year-old brother who, when told of the death, said, "But mom, I just wanted to see her one last time."
Brandy Vittrekwa moved from Fort McPherson, NWT, to Whitehorse in September, 2012, because her mother had enrolled in college there. She made friends quickly, her mother said, but she also started going missing, here and there, for a day or two.
The girl's Facebook page was immediately filled with posts from Porter Creek Secondary School friends honouring her life and lamenting her death. She was just two credits short of a high-school diploma.
"It's a tragedy all around," Ms. Bill said. "We're looking at young lives here."
Following publication of this story, Brandy Vittrekwa's parents released the following statement Thursday evening:
Brandy's parents would like to thank the public for their continued support and prayers. The outpouring of support, even from complete strangers, have been tremendous. Brandy's parents would also like to thank those who have come forward to assist the RCMP with their investigation. At this point in time, Brandy's family cannot provide any details about the criminal case. As criminal proceedings move forward, the family does not want to say or do anything that could interfere with, or jeopardize, the process. In this respect, we ask that the family's privacy be respected at this time.
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Editor's note: A previous version of this story stated a woman who answered the phone at the Vittrekwa home said the girl's mother was in court Wednesday. In fact, Norine Vittrekwa was not present for the proceedings.