Inquest Hears Why Tatyanna Harrison’s Cause of Death Was Changed From Fentanyl Toxicity to Sepsis

Subhadarshi Tripathy

7/8/20262 min read

A B.C. coroner’s inquest into the death of Tatyanna Harrison heard evidence Tuesday about why her preliminary cause of death was changed from fentanyl toxicity to sepsis.

Harrison, a 20-year-old Indigenous woman, disappeared from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside four years ago.

She was reported missing on May 3, 2022, one day after police found the body of an unidentified female inside a drydocked yacht in Richmond.

DNA testing later confirmed the body was Harrison’s on August 5, 2022, more than three months after she was found.

Initial Screen Detected Fentanyl

Investigating coroner Cynthia Hogan testified that an initial toxicology screen found fentanyl in the unidentified deceased person’s system, though the amount was not known at the time.

Based on that preliminary information, the initial cause of death was reported as fentanyl toxicity.

However, Hogan said a later autopsy performed by a forensic pathologist found Harrison had only a low level of fentanyl in her system when she died.

The cause of death was then updated to sepsis, a severe response to infection that can lead to organ failure.

Hogan testified that she informed Harrison’s mother, Natasha Harrison, about the new determination in September 2022.

Death Classification Changed to Natural

The inquest heard that contributing factors to the sepsis included Harrison’s low body mass and chronic misuse of substances.

Hogan said the classification of Harrison’s death was changed from accidental to natural.

She also testified that when she first reviewed the case, she was concerned by wounds found on Harrison’s body and ordered an expedited preliminary autopsy.

Harrison had been found naked from the waist down, with large wounds on both hips and bruising to her pelvis.

Hogan said the expedited autopsy found no injuries or trauma that could have caused death, and nothing that raised suspicion of foul play or homicide.

Police Evidence Also Reviewed

Richmond RCMP lead investigator Const. Joshua Wilkinson testified Monday that he believed the unidentified deceased woman was a drug user, based on drug paraphernalia found on the yacht and a single needle mark observed on one arm.

He said there were no obvious signs of criminality at the scene.

The inquest also heard that a sexual assault kit was collected from Harrison’s remains six months after her death. However, the evidence has not been tested because investigators determined there was not enough justification to do so.

Mother Critical of Investigation

Natasha Harrison has criticized Richmond RCMP for what she says was an inadequate investigation into the circumstances of how her daughter was found.

She has also raised concerns about how Vancouver police and Surrey RCMP handled Tatyanna’s missing person file, which was transferred back and forth between the two agencies.

On Tuesday, Natasha Harrison’s counsel, Sue Brown, said evidence at the inquest was the first time Harrison’s mother learned that Tatyanna’s remains were no longer with the B.C. Coroners Service.

The inquest heard the remains had been released in August 2023 to a Port Coquitlam funeral home and buried at Surrey Centre Cemetery.

Hogan said the B.C. Coroners Service had “exhausted” all attempts to contact Natasha Harrison at the time.

Inquest Extended to Fifth Day

The inquest is now running longer than its originally scheduled four days and will sit for a fifth day Wednesday at Coroner’s Court in Burnaby.

A coroner’s inquest does not assign blame or determine criminal responsibility.

Its purpose is to publicly examine the facts and circumstances of a death. At the end of the process, the jury may make recommendations aimed at improving policies and procedures.

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