Family of teen found dead in creek want a coroner's inquest

A mother is calling for a coroner’s inquest into the drowning death of her son.

Richelle Dubois was the person who found her son, 14-year-old Haven, unconscious in a east Regina creek in May 2015.

The coroner ruled his death “accidental drowning” and since then Dubois has wanted answers into what happened. 

“I have a lot of questions, unanswered questions, I want an answer into the death of my son,” Dubois said at a news conference held in Regina Wednesday.

Specifically Dubois has issues with what she feels are delayed police action, lack of communication and the coroner’s report.

She has been successful in her request to have four parts of the coroner’s report changed to indicate that marijuana use the day of death was not a factor nor did Haven have some reaction to the drug.

In a March 2017 letter to Dubois, acting chief coroner Shelley Ann Gibson said an inquest wouldn’t be called but does say if new evidence is uncovered, she will reopen the coroner’s investigation into his death.

In a statement released by the Saskatchewan Coalition Against Racism (SCAR), the group points out that the concerns raised by Dubois are similar to those expressed by the family of Nadine Machiskinic.

A coroner’s inquest just concluded into her falling death last month.

Dubois attended the Regina Police Service Board of Commissioners meeting Wednesday and tearfully asked for help from the mayor and chief in seeking answers.

Both agreed to facilitate a meeting between Dubois and the justice minister. The provincial government oversees the office of the chief coroner.

“Every bit of information that we got we investigated,” said Bray to the media after the meeting.  “Unfortunately investigations doesn’t always give us all the answers, and I think that’s where some of the frustration lies.”

Haven was found in the creek north of Victoria Avenue. Dubois was holding him in her arms when EMS arrived on the scene at 12:21 p.m.

A bystander was attempting CPR. Haven was in cardiac arrest, but attempts to revive him continued until he was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:29 p.m.

A coroner’s inquest is typically held in instances where death if considered sudden, unexpected or unnatural.