Rachel Littlejohn, found near Fort Providence, went missing in Hay River late May

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, July 31, 2014

DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE
A body that was recovered in the Mackenzie River last week near Fort Providence has been identified as that of a woman who went missing in Hay River earlier this summer.

The NWT Coroner's Office confirmed that the body of Rachel Littlejohn, 37, of Lakefield, Ont. was found near the confluence of the Horn and Mackenzie Rivers on July 23. As of July 28 there was no information on the cause of death because only the preliminary autopsy report had been received, said Karen Brown, the territory's deputy chief coroner.

Brown said the coroner's office is waiting for the final autopsy report to conclude its file.

Two men from Fort Providence who were doing water surveying and fish monitoring found the body, said Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation. The Horn River combines with the Mackenzie approximately 30 kilometres downriver from the community toward Fort Simpson.

"We've been trying to take care of them," Bonnetrouge said, noting that the discovery was a bit traumatizing.

Littlejohn was last seen in Hay River on May 31. She was reported missing the following day. At the time, a search was conducted using the resources of the RCMP, the Hay River Fire Department, ground search and rescue, the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and community volunteers.

In a July 24 press release, RCMP said the incident is not being considered suspicious.