Vancouver vigil held for Chelsea Poorman as family, advocates hold out for more answers around death

The mom of an Indigenous lady whose stays have been discovered a yr and half after she went lacking in Vancouver says she will not surrender looking for out what occurred.

“I am not going to cease combating till I get solutions to what occurred behind this home, to what occurred to Chelsea,” mentioned Sheila Poorman from the home positioned in one in every of Vancouver’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, the place her daughter’s stays have been present in late April.

Chelsea Poorman, 24, was reported lacking in September 2020. For a yr and a half, Sheila Poorman alongside together with her two different daughters put up lacking individual posters throughout the town and pleaded with police to do extra to seek out her.

Since Chelsea’s largely skeletal stays have been found on the again patio of an unoccupied dwelling in Vancouver’s Shaughnessy neighborhood, her demise has raised questions over how police have dealt with the case.

“For the police to not take this critical was the worst factor that I needed to undergo,” mentioned Sheila Poorman on Saturday, as she joined others on the residence to say prayers and erect indicators about lacking Indigenous girls.

“You realize, shedding my daughter and them not taking it critical. I cried to [police], I instructed them that she was susceptible. They did not take me critical.”

Folks collaborating within the vigil on Saturday made speeches on the property close to Granville Road and West thirty sixth Avenue, then marched to Vancouver’s Leisure District downtown, the place Chelsea Poorman, a Cree lady from Saskatchewan, was final seen.

She had been together with her sister Paige Kiernan, having drinks earlier than attending a celebration in an house on Granville Road. Earlier than she disappeared, she texted her sister that she was leaving the get together to fulfill up with a person.

It was the final time the household heard from Poorman, who had a mind harm and a few bodily incapacity on account of a critical car accident in 2014. 

“She was optimistic it doesn’t matter what was happening in her life and he or she at all times noticed the great in others and he or she by no means spoke dangerous of anyone and that was the half that I beloved about Chelsea and that is the half that I’ll miss,” mentioned her mom.

Investigation ‘energetic and ongoing’, police say

Since Chelsea’s stays have been discovered, Sheila Poorman together with Chelsea Poorman’s father, Mike Kiernan, have been crucial of police, who in saying the invention of Chelsea’s stays mentioned the demise was not suspicious.

Investigators additionally mentioned that as a result of state of her stays, it might be unattainable to know for positive the reason for demise.

Poorman and Kiernan mentioned they have been confused over whether or not police had closed the case or continued to analyze, and have hassle believing Poorman went to the property on her personal and died there.

Each have mentioned they have been instructed their daughter was lacking some fingers and part of her cranium, particulars police haven’t made public.

Police preserve that the case was by no means closed and that investigators proceed to work to seek out out extra about what occurred.

On Saturday, Sheila Poorman mentioned police instructed her they have been utilizing canine to seek for another of her daughter’s stays.

The Vancouver Police Division wouldn’t affirm that element, however mentioned the file has by no means been closed and “stays an energetic and ongoing investigation.

“We have now mentioned the file intimately with the household,” mentioned Const. Tania Visintin in an e mail. “We can’t be discussing particulars of the investigation with the general public, nevertheless.”

Lorelei Williams, whose cousin went lacking in 1996 and was later named one in every of Robert Pickton’s victims, has been serving to Chelsea Poorman’s household by organizing a number of occasions earlier than and after Chelsea’s stays have been found.

She says she is aware of the ache Sheila Poorman, Mike Kiernan and Chelsea’s sisters are dealing with.

“I do know all of it too effectively,” she mentioned.

William says she is hopeful that continued consideration on the case will lead to ideas and knowledge.

“Any individual needed to see one thing,” she mentioned. “Simply something. You realize when folks come collectively, concepts come out and this may also help help their household.”