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Sudden death in Behchoko

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 21, 2013

BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
A Gameti man was found dead in Behchoko on Jan. 14.

The RCMP identified the deceased as 36-year-old Raymond Bruce Koyina.

No foul play is suspected in the death.

"There were no signs of anything suspicious that would have caused his death," said Cpl. Barry Ledoux, a spokesperson for the RCMP's G Division in Yellowknife.

At about 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 14, the RCMP in Behchoko received a report of a death in a residence in the community. Officers went to the residence and located the deceased male.

As of last week, the exact cause of death had not been determined.

The investigation was turned over to the Office of the Chief Coroner of the Northwest Territories.

An RCMP news release stated the residence was not connected to any utilities, which was confirmed by Cathy Menard, the chief coroner.

"There was no heat, there was no electricity and the wood stove had frost in it," Menard said. "From what I understood, there was no permanent resident in the house."

That raises the question of whether the deceased man may have succumbed to the cold in the unheated house.

"That definitely could be a possibility, and we won't know for sure until after the post-mortem," said Menard, who said it was very cold in the house.

She said the deceased's body was sent to Edmonton for a post-mortem examination, which will include a full toxicology report. The autopsy was expected to be completed by the end of last week.

Menard said the deceased man was not staying in the house.

The coroner added her understanding is he had been visiting for a couple of weeks in Behchoko, where he had a number of relatives.

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