A vigil is being held in Richmond to honour and remember Tatyanna Harrison, who was found dead in May inside a 40-foot-yacht that was in dry dock in a marina.
Harrison, a 20-year-old Indigenous woman, was last seen alive in March with a man in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and was reported missing in May by her mother, who released a video in June to appeal for help.
During May, her body was found inside the yacht in Shelter Island Marina on Graybar Road in east Richmond.
Delay in identifying Tatyanna Harrison
But it took until earlier this month for her to be identified. The BC Coroners Service later informed police that Harrison died from "drug toxicity, specifically fentanyl."
However, her family and friends still have questions surrounding her death and are holding a vigil at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, at Shelter Island Marina.
The vigil – which is being organized by Lorelei Williams, founder of Butterflies in Spirit – will also remember fellow deceased Indigenous females Chelsea Poorman and Noelle O’Soup.
Williams told City News that the vigil is a “chance for the three families to come together to call for justice for their daughters.”
Harrison's disappearance still being investigated
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD), which kicked off the original investigation into Harrison’s disappearance, said earlier this month that its Major Crimes Unit was still actively investigating the lead-up to her death.
But Richmond RCMP is investigating her death since her body was found in Richmond.
RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dennis Hwang told the Richmond News that the investigation and its results have been discussed "with the deceased’s next of kin. Our investigation is concluded.
"Should any new evidence arise, we will re-open our investigation."
Busses are being organized from 22nd Street station in New Westminster to take people to the vigil. More information can be found at Butterflies in Spirit.
