Family demanding answers following woman’s death in Winnipeg jail

Kiana Everett is pictured in an undated image. (Supplied)

The family of a woman who recently died at Winnipeg’s Remand Centre is demanding answers about what happened and asking if her death could have been prevented.

Approximately 40 people took part in a Monday afternoon rally in support of Kiana Everett, a 25-year-old woman who died July 1 while in custody.

“We need real dialogue done here,” said Norman Lagimodiere, Kiana’s father. “We need the justice minister and our premier to stand up and see what’s really going on within the system.

Everett, who is from the Interlake community of Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation approximately three hours north of Winnipeg, was in the province’s child and family services system and struggled with addiction and homelessness. Her father said she was in custody on an alleged theft charge at the time of her death.

Lagimodiere said Everett was found unconscious on June 29.

“She was in a room with cameras, and to my understanding, vomited and choked and was unresponsive for 30 minutes,” said Norman Lagimodiere, Kiana’s father. “We got to the hospital; the hospital said she was brain dead.”

She was taken off of life support on Canada Day.

In the past year, three people have died in the Winnipeg Remand Centre. A 25-year-old man died while in custody on March 25, while a 39-year-old man died in September last year.

Melissa Robinson, the director of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs’ missing and murdered unit, said the three deaths are “alarming”.

“It’s sad that in 10 months, three lives are now gone,” she said. “Families left to carry this grief and walk with it for the rest of their lives.”

Robinson and Lagimodiere both are looking to be involved with the inquest into Everett’s death and determine if improvements can be made.

The Manitoba government issued a news release on Everett’s death on July 3, noting a 25-year-old woman died while in custody at the Winnipeg Remand Centre and the death has been reported to the office of the province’s Chief Medical Examiner. Inquests into in-custody deaths are mandatory under provincial law.

“Manitoba Justice extends condolences to the family,” the statement reads.

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said on Monday the minister would not be providing comment as the investigation into the woman’s death is active.