Tatyanna Harrison’s Family Says Inquest Left Them Heartbroken and Raised More Questions

The family of Tatyanna Harrison says the coroner’s inquest into her death has left them devastated and still searching for answers.

Harrison, who was 20 years old, was reported missing on May 3, 2022, and her remains were later found on a dry-docked yacht in Richmond, British Columbia.

Family Says Inquest Raised More Questions

Tatyanna’s mother, Natasha Harrison, said the inquest did not provide the clear facts she had hoped for.

She said she felt the case relied heavily on assumptions and that the process damaged her trust in the police, the coroner’s service and the wider system. Her comments came after the inquest jury released its findings and recommendations.

Tatyanna Harrison Was Reported Missing in 2022

Harrison was first reported missing in early May 2022.

Her remains were found in Richmond aboard a dry-docked yacht, but they were not formally identified until August of that year after DNA testing was completed.

Cause of Death Classified as Undetermined

The coroner’s inquest jury classified Harrison’s cause of death as undetermined.

The official verdict lists her date of death as May 1, 2022, the place of death as 6911 Graybar Road in Richmond, and the medical cause of death as undetermined.

Family Questions Earlier Drug Toxicity Theory

Harrison’s family says the coroner’s service initially suggested her death was likely connected to drug toxicity, despite what they believed were suspicious circumstances.

After the inquest, the family said they remain unsatisfied and believe more work is needed to understand what happened to Tatyanna.

Eight Recommendations Issued by Jury

On Friday, the coroner’s jury delivered eight recommendations.

The recommendations focused heavily on missing persons investigations, police training, Indigenous cultural understanding, risk assessment standards and accountability for compliance with provincial policing standards.

Recommendations Target Police Standards and Training

Several recommendations were directed to the Director of Policing and Law Enforcement Services under B.C.’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

The jury recommended reviewing provincial policing standards to improve training for missing persons cases, including the use of technology, mentoring, high-risk missing person designations and Indigenous cultural education provided in the context of historical harms.

Indigenous Liaison Officers Recommended

The jury also recommended that provincial policing standards be reviewed to include Indigenous liaison officers in missing persons investigative units.

The goal is to help build stronger relationships between police agencies and Indigenous communities.

Calls for Better Risk Assessment

Another recommendation called for missing persons risk assessment templates used by police agencies to meet provincial standards and clearly define what makes a case high risk.

The jury also recommended stronger accountability when police agencies fail to comply with those standards.

Family Wants Full Review and Reopened Investigation

Harrison’s family is now calling for a complete review and a reopening of the investigation into her death.

They want officials to examine how agencies involved in the case may have failed and whether missed steps affected the search for answers.

Mother Says She Had to Search for Answers Herself

Natasha Harrison said she felt forced to do investigative work on her own using only her phone and determination.

She said it was painful and unacceptable that, as a grieving mother without formal investigative training or resources, she felt she had to push for answers herself.

The coroner’s inquest into Tatyanna Harrison’s death has not brought the closure her family hoped for.

While the jury classified her cause of death as undetermined and issued eight recommendations aimed at improving missing persons investigations, her family says the process left too many unanswered questions.

They are now calling for a renewed investigation and a full review of how police and other agencies handled the case.