Vancouver police have confirmed that the body found along the Fraser River back in May was Tatyanna Harrison, an Indigenous woman reported missing from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
The 20-year-old woman was reported missing by her mother on May 3, after not hearing from her since the end of March.
Harrison last texted her mother from the Downtown Eastside area on March 24, and VPD and her mother released a video on June 25 with Harrison's last known movements to appeal for help in locating Harrison.
A body, now identified as Harrison, was found in a 40-foot-yacht that was in dry dock at the marina in east Richmond, on May 2. Richmond RCMP and BC Coroner Services released a composite sketch last month in an attempt to identify the deceased woman.
“This is heartbreaking news to everyone who knew and loved Tatyanna, and to the many strangers who came together to search for her when she disappeared,” said Const. Tania Visintin.
“Although we are now able to provide some answers, many questions remain, and we will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tatyanna’s disappearance.”
The BC Coroners Service had informed VPD of the identification on August 5 and said that Harrison died from "drug toxicity, specifically fentanyl," according to Visintin.
Anyone with information on Harrison’s last movements is encouraged to call the VPD Missing Person Unit at 604-717-2530 or email [email protected]. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.solvecrime.ca.
