Vancouver police have identified a body discovered in Richmond as the 20-year-old Indigenous woman who went missing from the Downtown Eastside earlier this year.
Tatyanna Harrison was reported missing on May 3 after her mother had not seen or heard from her since the end of March. Her mother had issued a plea released by the VPD on June 25 asking for anyone with information to come forward.
VPD were notified yesterday (August 5) by the BC Coroners Service that a body found on May 2 in Richmond was identified as Tatyanna.
"Tragically, we now believe Tatyanna died in another city before she was reported missing," says Cst. Visintin. "The Coroners Service has informed VPD that Tatyanna died from drug toxicity, specifically fentanyl."
VPD investigators believe she had relocated to Vancouver from Surrey several weeks before her disappearance. VPD also note that she was often seen with a companion.
She last texted her mother from a new phone number somewhere in the Downtown Eastside on March 24 which was the last time the two had communicated.
Harrison was seen in Vancouver several times since then, including at Robson Park on April 7 and at the Grand Union Pub on April 22.
She was reported missing on May 3 after failing to collect a social assistance cheque on April 27.
The VPD ask anyone with information on Tatyanna's last movements to call the VPD Missing Person Unit at 604-717-2530 or email vpd.missing@vpd.ca or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
