RCMP tight-lipped on death near Oak River
- Details
- Published on Thursday, March 8, 2018
By Sheila Runions
Rivers Banner
On Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 27, Rivers Banner contacted Yellowhead RCMP for information regarding the death of a person between Oak River and Norman elevator on Feb. 26. An officer there would not comment, claiming all statements on active investigations must come from media officials.
This newspaper then contacted an RCMP media representative and asked nine questions, only to be told, “We will be issuing a media release. You are not the only inquiring media on this matter.”
In addition, Rivers Banner explained our deadlines and offered to extend the Tuesday 5 p.m. cutoff to Wednesday at 10 a.m. RCMP could not to compose four statements by that time; the official release was sent at 1:51 p.m. It stated: On Feb. 26 at approximately 8 a.m. Yellowhead RCMP received a report from a passerby of an unresponsive 40-year-old female discovered in the ditch along Provincial Road 354 south of Oak River. Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported the female to the hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. RCMP is investigating the death as suspicious. RCMP Major Crime Services and RCMP Forensic Identification Services are assisting with the ongoing investigation.
A subsequent email from this office once again asked more detailed questions, only to be told by the media representative, “I have provided what I am able to in relation to an active and ongoing homicide investigation. Respect for the victim and the need to ensure nothing jeopardizes the investigation or any possible future court proceedings will always come first.”
According to a Brandon Sun story, the deceased is a woman named Terri Noel, a resident of Sioux Valley who leaves to mourn her six children and two grandchildren. That newspaper also reported, “An RCMP spokesperson said more information would be provided this morning [March 1].” As of Wednesday morning March 7, no additional information has been received from the national police force.
Rivers Banner attempted to contact a few witnesses from Oak River and Rivers to confirm rumours but either contact could not be made or they did not want to go on record.
