'The family is just devastated'
Relatives identify man found dead as 43-year-old Raymond John Simpson
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A man found dead in a downtown alley on Good Friday morning has been identified by family members as Raymond John Simpson, 43.
This undated photo of Raymond John Simpson was forwarded to Yellowknifer by his sister Therese Bakale. The 43-year-old man was found dead in a downtown alley on Good Friday morning. Foul play is not suspected. - photo courtesy of Therese Bekale |
He was discovered just after 8 a.m., April 3 in the 5000 block of the alley between 48 and 49 Street, according to an RCMP news release. A cause of death has not yet been determined, however, the initial investigation has not uncovered any evidence of foul play, police stated.
Simpson's sister Therese Bekale, who lives in Gameti, confirmed it was her brother who was found. She said he also went by the name Peter.
"He grew up here in Gameti. He was badly hurt when he was struck by a pick-up truck in Yellowknife in 2013," she said. "He was friendly and nice and liked to tell stories. But he'd been struggling somewhat since the accident."
The family is still waiting for an autopsy to be completed to hear how he died.
"Right now we don't know what happened. The body has been sent to Edmonton for an autopsy," she said. A funeral will be held in Gameti but arrangements have yet to be finalized, she said.
It is believed Simpson was homeless.
John Mantla of Behchoko was Simpson's cousin.
"He was adopted into my uncle's family when he was a baby. After both adoptive parents passed away he moved to Yellowknife and hung out on the streets," Mantla said.
"When he was run over by the truck he broke both his legs and had to be medevaced to Edmonton. He was eventually transferred to Stanton hospital and when he got out of there he ended up back on the streets.
He wanted to return home to Gameti but he just couldn't hitch a ride. The family is just devastated."
A woman, who asked not to be identified, said she saw a large police presence in the alley near the Yellowknife Day Shelter last Friday morning.
"There were several police vehicles including a van, as well as officers and what appeared to be detectives," she said.
The two men who she thought picked up the body were wearing white jumpsuits.
She believed they may have been bio-hazard suits.
According to Environment Canada, the temperature that morning dipped as low as -30 C in the city.
RCMP along with the NWT Coroner's Office continue to investigate.
