Raymond Cormier Suicide: Man acquitted in Tina Fontaine’s death found dead in Ontario

Thus, a lot of things are still unanswered, according to Tina’s great aunt.

The body of the man cleared of killing 15-year-old Tina Fontaine was discovered in Kenora, Ontario, a summer vacation destination located roughly two hours east of Winnipeg.

Thelma Favel, Tina Fontaine’s great-aunt, says she was informed about Raymond Cormier on Friday by Winnipeg Police Service homicide detectives.

“He departed with the truth,” Favel said to APTN News on Monday. “I know in my heart that he killed Tina and did that.”I have a lot of unresolved questions, though. Why? Why would he harm a young girl in that way?

In 2018, a Winnipeg jury found Cormier, a small-time robber and drug dealer, not guilty of second-degree murder. The Anicinabe teen he met on the streets of Winnipeg was accused of being drugged by him, and her body was dumped in the Red River.

Living on Sagkeeng, Favel said the cops informed her that Tina’s murder is still under investigation.
In an interview, she stated, “They still get tips.”

When APTN reached out to the Winnipeg Police Service for comment, they did not reply right away.
The Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora’s Staff-Sgt. Grant Cowles refused to acknowledge that Cormier had been discovered deceased in the neighbourhood.

He replied, “I can see why there might be interest, but we don’t discuss non-criminal deaths out of consideration for the family.”

When Cormier of New Brunswick went on trial, he was 56 years old.

He is heard confessing to the murder on recordings made by the secret police, but this was insufficient to prove him guilty.

Eight days after Tina was reported missing in August 2014, her body—wrapped in a duvet cover and weighted down with rocks—was recovered from Winnipeg’s Red River. Over a year had passed when Cormier was charged.

However, there was no DNA proof connecting him to Tina. Physicians called to testify stated they were unable to determine the teen’s cause of death with certainty.

In an interview, Favel stated, “I kept praying, hoping he would get a guilty conscience.” “He was aware that he wouldn’t be prosecuted due to the double jeopardy issue, but why didn’t he come clean before this (his demise) occurred?”

Murder suspects cannot face multiple prosecutions for the same offense in Canada.

The jury heard testimony from Tina’s relatively secure upbringing that went out of control after her father was slain during a three-week period in 2018.

On Monday, Favel reiterated, “That’s when I noticed a really big change in Tina.” “She appeared disoriented.”

Tina went to Winnipeg to see her mother after leaving Sagkeeng.

She lived on the streets for a while in the city and was the victim of sexual exploitation. When she vanished, social workers had checked her into a hotel.

In the summer of 2014, she and her partner got to know the older Cormier. According to what the jury was told, Cormier gave Tina narcotics, a place to stay, and had intercourse with her.

Witnesses recall Tina and Cormier squabbling in the street over a pilfered truck, during which Tina accused Cormier of exploiting her bike as a drug dealer. Tina even called the police to report a stolen truck.

Favel claimed that she visited Tina’s burial in the Sagkeeng cemetery after learning of Cormier’s passing.

She remarked, “I just want to know why he took her from us, but I know where she is and that she’s safe now.” “I get irritated by those unanswered questions.”

According to Favel, the police informed her that Cormier was en route to Winnipeg.