Kirsten Larsen
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 09/98) - Four unexplained deaths in the city over a period of one week are under intense police investigation and the chief coroner has issued a warning about killer street drugs.

"All we are doing here is saying let's err on the side of caution," said Percy Kinney, Chief Coroner for NWT.

"They may not be drug-related deaths, but if they are, I think it's appropriate to inform the public of that possibility now rather than wait ten days for toxicology and find out then that's what it was."

The highest profile death was also the last reported. Baker Lake's mayor, David Tagoona, age 51, died suddenly at the Yellowknife Inn while in his room Monday morning.

Tagoona's death was the second that morning. Approximately three hours before Tagoona's death, RCMP received a call at 6:45 and arrived at a city residence to find Randolph Stephen Olynuk, 38, dead in a hot tub. RCMP reported that drug use was not suspected but alcohol may have been a factor.

Autopsies deepen mystery

The first fatality was reported Wednesday, Dec. 2.

RCMP were called to Stanton Regional Hospital at approximately 5:00 p.m. after a patient was admitted and reported in critical condition. Hai Le Lam, 35 of Yellowknife had been taken to the hospital by ambulance "after taking ill in the presence of a friend". He died before RCMP arrived.

An autopsy on Lam revealed no anatomical cause of death and the coroner's office is conducting further tests.

"We are looking at a toxicology examination to see if we have any drugs or what level of drugs we have in the body," said Chief Coroner Kinney. "When you have four deaths of relatively young people, these people are in their 30's, 40's, one of them is 51, in such a short time frame in one community one of the first things you think of is perhaps one or all (of the deaths) may have some drug involvement."

Saturday, Dec. 5 Ernie Vandameer, 43 was brought into Stanton Regional Hospital between the hours of 4 a.m and 5 a.m. after the ambulance responded to an anonymous phone call stating that Vandemeer was experiencing a drug overdose. By the time RCMP arrived at the hospital, Vandemeer had passed away.

Although the cause of death has not been positively determined in any of the four

deaths, Sgt. Degrand said the two that occurred Dec. 7 are not being investigated as drug related.

Despite that, the chief coroner's office is taking precautions in warning the public that a potent narcotic may be circulating in Yellowknife which could be the cause of some of the deaths.

Kinney said drug users should abstain from using any kind of narcotic until the analysis of the toxicology exam performed on Vandemeer is complete.

"I definitely want to tell anyone that is a potential user of these kinds of drugs that maybe, just maybe there is something out there with a little more kick to it and they should be very careful, and I hope I'm wrong."