The provincial coroner’s office says it will hold an inquest into the death of Tatyanna Harrison.
On May 3, 2022, Tatyanna Harrison, 20, who was Cree, Métis and Brazilian, was reported missing.
She was last seen on surveillance video withdrawing money at an ATM in downtown Vancouver.
She was last heard from by family at the end of March 2022, but was seen close to the Downtown Eastside as late as April 22, 2022 at the single-room occupancy Grand Union Pub.
The Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner (OPCC), overseen by retired justice Brian Neal, found that the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) committed misconduct in its handling of a Harrison’s case.
An investigation by the OPCC found that the officers involved with the case failed to “complete the Missing Person Risk Assessment diligently without good or sufficient cause,” according to Neal.
Harrison was found on May 2, 2022, deceased, on a dry-docked yacht in Richmond.
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After Harrison was found, British Columbia’s chief coroner, Dr. Jatinder Baldwan, issued a statement.
“Having reviewed the investigative findings regarding Tatyanna Harrison’s death and considering my obligation as chief coroner to ensure public confidence in the BC Coroners Service and its processes, I have ordered that the investigation into Tatyanna’s death be reopened.”
“An inquest will provide an opportunity for a broad, open and transparent review of the circumstances related to Tatyanna’s death, and my hope is that the jury will be able to make meaningful recommendations that will prevent similar deaths from occurring in the future.”
The inquest starts at 9:30 a.m. on July 2, at the Burnaby Coroners’ Court.
Presiding coroner Larry Marzinzik and a jury will hear evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts surrounding this death.
The jury will have the opportunity to make recommendations, as outlined above, though a jury must not make any finding of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law.
The livestream for this inquest will be available on the BC Coroners Service’s website whenever the hearing is in session.