Winnipeg, Manitoba – Raymond Cormier, the man suspected of killing Tina Fontaine, has passed away, leaving many unanswered questions according to Fontaine’s aunt Thelma Favel. Fontaine’s tragic death brought attention to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada. She was found in Winnipeg’s Red River in 2014, becoming a symbol of this ongoing issue.
Despite Cormier’s death, Favel does not feel closure. She raised Fontaine and firmly believes that the police had the right suspect all along. Cormier was charged with second-degree murder using a controversial method for gaining confessions, but he was acquitted in 2018. Favel recalls his demeanor in court, expressing mixed feelings about his passing.
Fontaine’s body was discovered after she had been missing for a month. The cause of death was never determined, but suspicions fell on Cormier. Favel, speaking from her home in Powerview, Man., shared her belief that Cormier was responsible for the heinous act. She recounts the changes in Fontaine’s life after her father’s murder and the exploitation she faced leading up to her disappearance.
Following news of Cormier’s death, Favel visited Fontaine’s grave on the Sagkeeng First Nation to share the update with her. The unresolved questions surrounding Fontaine’s death have left Favel grieving for her niece. Fontaine’s tragic story sparked a national conversation about violence and discrimination against Indigenous women, leading to initiatives like Drag the Red and the Bear Clan Patrol.
The circumstances surrounding Cormier’s death remain unclear, with details withheld by authorities. Favel’s ongoing search for answers reflects the pain and frustration felt by many affected by Fontaine’s untimely death. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Fontaine’s life and the quest for justice continue to resonate in the ongoing fight for the rights and safety of Indigenous women and girls across Canada.