Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Nov 18/05) - "There isn't an explanation." That was RCMP Insp. Jim Cunningham's response to several questions from the families of David Horesay and Fred Hardisty, the Fort Simpson men who died in the North Nahanni in June.

After an extensive investigation, including numerous interviews and analysis of evidence, the RCMP held a follow-up meeting with the men's relatives Tuesday.

Horesay's remains were located in the bush on June 27, approximately four kilometres from the cabin where he was staying.

He had been in the river and managed to get out, but he later died of exposure to the cold.

Hardisty drowned and his body was recovered by tireless searchers in the North Nahanni River on July 7.

Despite the families' burning desire to know why Horesay, 60, and Hardisty, 61, both experienced bush men, would have wandered away from the cabin, Cunningham simply could not provide an answer.

"To be absolutely blunt with you I don't know and I probably never will know," he said while sitting among a circle of chairs with five fellow RCMP members to his immediate right. The relatives, a few family friends and a couple of political leaders occupied the remainder of the seats in the cultural centre.

The inspector was crystal clear on this point, however: there was positively no evidence of foul play in the deaths.

He was also unequivocal in conceding that the police did mishandle aspects of the search.

On the former matter, family members raised suspicions about other people who had been at or around the cabin during that fateful week in June.

They wanted to know about shotgun blasts in the trees and other expended rounds.

Cunningham, unable to explain the reason for the gunfire, reiterated that the autopsy results were conclusive: neither Horesay nor Hardisty had suffered from a bullet wound nor from any physical injury such as blunt-force trauma.

In reviewing the way they conducted portions of the search, the RCMP made commitments to improve on their practices.

Although a couple of police officers were dispatched to the North Nahanni, the force's search co-ordinator called the shots from Fort Simpson with input from Yellowknife.

"That will not happen again," Cunningham promised.

He added that search methods stand to be augmented as do protocols for involving the Rangers, civilian search groups and residents who have knowledge of the area.

Chief Supt. Pat McCloskey, who was also present at the meeting, noted that steps have been taken to arrange for search and rescue courses to be taken jointly by the RCMP and community members.

"It's the way we want to go," McCloskey said. "This is a good start here."

The RCMP were also apologetic when criticized for failing to inform the men's relatives of their status.

McCloskey also offered to confirm that the pathologist who examined Horesay and Hardisty's bodies is a forensic specialist. Someone with that expertise may be able to determine if the men sustained any burns, which is another unanswered question.

When Tuesday's discussion turned to the possibility of hiring an independent investigator, McCloskey said the families, if they are unsatisfied with the RCMP's probe, have the option of referring the case to the Public Complaints Commission. That body has the authority to call for a public inquiry, should it decide it's warranted.

After the meeting concluded, Rosemary Gill, David Horesay's sister, said she's hopeful a forensic pathologist may provide a few more clues.

"It sounds like they (the police) have done a thorough investigation," she said.

Then she paused, and referring to enduring grief from the summer tragedy, she added, "But it's still difficult..."