INUVIK
The discovery of a man's body on Wolverine Road on April 17 is no longer considered a "suspicious death" by police.
This home at 15 Wolverine Road was cordoned off at 4:45 p.m. April 17 while the RCMP investigated after a body was discovered. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
|
"The death is no longer being treated as suspicious in nature and the investigation is now being led by the office of the chief coroner of the Northwest Territories with assistance from the Inuvik RCMP and G Division Major Crimes Unit. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time," a news release stated.
Inuvik RCMP officers were tight-lipped April 18 as they investigated the discovery of the man's body in a residence. RCMP have only released that he was 55 years old and from Ontario.
Police were called to the scene about 4:45 p.m. April 17, according to police.
Greg Stromgren, who lives two doors away, said he received a call from the man's landlord just about the time the police and ambulance arrived.
Stromgren said the landlord, Dennis Cundicht, had discovered the body of the tenant lying on the floor beside his bed.
Cundicht declined to comment when contacted by the Drum, except to confirm he owns the trailer in which the man was found.
Stromgren identified the man as Steve Stachowiak, a local gas inspector for the GNWT Department of Public Works and Services.
The RCMP has yet to make a formal identification. The latest news release said police will not be making the man's name public.
"I've known him for about two years," Stromgren said from his home "We often had coffee together."
He said Stachowiak was a private man who lived alone in Inuvik. Stromgren said he believed Stachowiak still owned a house in Ontario where his spouse lived, but wasn't sure of the location.
Brian Turner, another local resident who knew Stachowiak, said he was surprised at his death.
"I think he was a bit of a lonely guy, but he was a good guy too," he said.
They both speculated that Stachowiak might have had some kind of seizure or heart attack, possibly while moving the bed.
Stromgren said he was asked by the RCMP to have a look at the house to see if there was anything obviously missing or out of place as they began their investigation.
Stromgren said nothing was out of place in the home, except for the bed, which was lying askew. That was most unusual for a man he described as meticulous in his ways.
Stromgren said even the door appeared to have been locked from the inside, and there was no other sign of anything out of place.
He wasn't aware the police had declared it a suspicious death until told by the Inuvik Drum.
"I don't know why they'd be calling it suspicious," he said.
Stromgren said they last had coffee together at the Inuvik hospital on the morning of April 12. Stachowiak was planning on working in Aklavik for the week, and Stromgren hadn't seen him since April 12.
He said he found it odd that Stachowiak's truck still had the block heater plugged in, but didn't think anything of it until his body was discovered.
