WARNING: This tale is made up of distressing aspects.
The Abbotsford police officer who found Traevon Chalifoux-Desjarlais dead in his group home bedroom closet testified at a coroner’s inquest into his loss of life that he also uncovered what appeared to be a few suicide notes lying facial area up on the nightstand and bedroom floor.
Const. Christian Drabosenig said he recognized the notes in the moments soon after obtaining the 17-yr-old’s physique.
“I noticed on these parts of paper there [were] notes created. I are unable to remember the specific wording, but to me, when I go through the notes, it seemed like a goodbye be aware,” claimed Drabosenig, testifying on working day 5 of the coroner’s inquest into Traevon’s death.
Group household employee Murray McMaster testified earlier that neither he nor a further team dwelling worker situated Traevon or the notes when they searched the bed room “numerous occasions” in the times soon after Traevon was noticed lacking on Sept. 14.
Drabosenig testified he was dispatched to the team residence on Ware Road in Abbotsford on Sept. 18, 2020, to accumulate Traevon’s DNA as portion of the lacking person’s investigation. In accordance to Drabosenig, McMaster answered the door of the team dwelling and, on questioning, said he had checked Traevon’s room and had no facts about his whereabouts.
Drabosenig said McMaster then pointed out a weird odor.
“I turned suspicious and commenced asking queries,” stated Drabosenig. “[McMaster] stated that Traevon might have experienced a compact pet like a hamster or animal that might have died down there, but he couldn’t come across it … This tale was type of odd for me, so I requested if I could have a seem, and he claimed of course.”
Drabosenig testified when McMaster opened the door from the most important floor to the basement, there was a sturdy odour that, as a longtime police officer, he straight away recognized.
On getting into Traevon’s bedroom, Drabosenig mentioned he noticed how small and barren it was. He said immediately after seeking beneath the mattress, he opened the closet and observed Traevon’s human body hanging in the closet.
Evidence presented previously by Traevon’s mom, psychiatrist and guardianship social worker paints a photograph of a susceptible Indigenous youth who confronted overpowering troubles in his shorter everyday living. In the weeks right before his demise, he was off his treatment, exhibiting self-harming behaviour and suicidal ideation.
The inquest listened to that Traevon frequently went AWOL and experienced been the subject matter of 14 past lacking man or woman stories.
Far more than a person of the people today included in his “circle of care” mentioned COVID-19 limitations ended up an exacerbating circumstance at the time.
The Ware Street team home was operate by Rees Loved ones Companies, a company contracted by Indigenous youngster welfare company Xyolhemeylh. Xyolhemeylh is a delegated company of the Ministry of Small children and Household Advancement working in the Fraser Valley.
The inquest is slated to listen to proof into following 7 days.
Coroner’s inquests do not find blame fairly, they are intended to serve the community desire in determining the induce and instances of a loss of life. The jury listening to the proof can make suggestions aimed at preventing identical deaths in the potential.
If you or anyone you know is having difficulties, here’s in which to get enable:
If you’re worried another person you know could be at hazard of suicide, you must converse to them about it, claims the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Right here are some warning indications:
- Suicidal views.
- Substance abuse.
- Purposelessness.
- Panic.
- Sensation trapped.
- Hopelessness and helplessness.
- Withdrawal.
- Anger.
- Recklessness.