Svjetlana mlinarevic

Svjetlana Mlinarevic

Herald Leader

January 2014

 

The family of the young woman found frozen in an industrial area in Portage la Prairie on Sunday are mourning their loss, but have more questions than answers about her death.

 

Rocelyn Gabriel, 20, was found covered in snow at the Portage and District Recycling depot shortly after 8 a.m. on Jan. 26. Portage RCMP and EMS found her conscious and transported her to Portage District General Hospital where she later died from causes of extreme exposure.

 

“There are a lot of people here that we’re related to and we don’t understand … there’s no reason for her to pass by the ‘coops’ and end up over there,”  said older sister Connie Gabriel. “There are so many questions we want answered.”

 

According to Connie, Rocelyn met up with her sister, Lynette, on Jan. 25 at their cousin Mindy’s house on 17th Street for a party. She was later texted at 11 p.m. that the women were by the Dairy Queen on 2nd Street and that they were going to another house party. Even though Lynette and Mindy had been drinking, the family said Roselyn hadn't had a drink for more than a few months. When the party was drawing to a close, the women decided to leave. Lynette thought Rocelyn was going home with their cousin and the cousin thought Rocelyn had gone home by herself.

 

“The cops told us she walked from 2nd Street and ended up all the way by the recycling plant within a 40 minute time frame,” said Connie.

 

Although they haven’t seen the footage, the family claims the RCMP told them security cameras at the recycling plant show Rocelyn arriving at about 4:45 a.m. She spent the next three hours running four times from recycling bins in front of the plant, where she was taking shelter, to the roadway trying to flag down a car. They claim the footage also shows a couple of people dropping off recyclables and not noticing Rocelyn’s body.

 

“Someone else brought her here,” said Loretta Traverse, an aunt. “My speculation is that she caught a ride with someone. Whether it be a cab company that the girls in the area are talking about and she knew what was going to happen to her. She got out of the vehicle perhaps and took off cause that’s how strong willed she was.”

 

The family believes foul play ended the life of Rocelyn. They claim she had scratches on the side of her body and that her purse was found far from where she lay. Traverse claims she had to force police to perform a rape kit on Rocelyn.

 

“(The officer) told me there was no reason to believe that this was nothing other than a young girl that went out to a party and lost her way home. I don’t believe that. In my heart I could take it if that’s what happened and she was found closer (to home), but this is out of the area,” said Traverse. 

For Rocelyn’s mother, Joyce, the loss is more than she can bear.

 

“She would never go over there. She knows where she lives. I just need to know why. Why? It’s too early for her to go. Somebody has got to know something. My baby. I’m not ready. I’m not ready. I just need her to come home,” she said, before breaking down.
 

Joyce said Rocelyn had just graduated from high school and was getting ready to attend Red River College for a nurses aid certificate.

 

“She just finished school. She had big dreams,” she said.

 

The family was to hold a vigil Tuesday night in remembrance of Rocelyn, as well as cousin Jennifer Catcheway and Amber McFarland who both disappeared in 2008. 

 

“We don’t want my sister to be another aboriginal statistic,” said Connie.

 

The family held a vigil at the recycling plant on Tuesday evening where Garry Catcheway, Rocelyn's father, spoke to the crowd of 80 people who had gathered.

 

"Can you imagine how cold we are right now, (and how cold it was for Rocelyn) when there was a storm that morning. Right in this spot is where she warmed up,” said Catcheway, pointing to a sheltered corner of the building.

 

“Each time she would see a vehicle she would run, but she was getting weaker all the time. Someone from McCain's found her coming to drop off his recycling. We were in Winnipeg when that storm came in the morning, but we made it to see her and I’m sure she waited for us so we could talk to her while we had that chance."

 

Sandra Saunders, a cousin, came from Winnipeg to share the last time she saw Rocelyn, which was Jan. 24 as they sat together sharing stories and laughing. 

 

"I was so nervous to come to Portage today because I knew I was going to see my little cousins here. But I think that out of every tragedy we'll take something out of that and use it for good," said Saunders.

 

The family asks that anyone wishing to make a donation for the funeral or to give support to call Traverse at 1-204-881-8837.

 

 

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