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The 18-year-old died from a poisonous mixture of alcohol and a date-rape drug. Her mother believes she was drugged
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The B.C. Coroners Service is reopening an investigation into the 2021 loss of life of a Victoria teen who died from a poisonous mixture of alcohol and a date-rape drug.
Tracy Sims believes her daughter, 18-year-old Samantha Krysia Sims-Somerville, was drugged. She has fought for years to have the case reopened.
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Sims mentioned she was in shock when she acquired an e mail from the B.C. Coroners Service informing her it will reopen an investigation into the loss of life of her daughter.
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“All that was speeding by means of my thoughts once I acquired that was: ‘Lastly somebody’s listening to me. My daughter’s loss of life does matter. She is necessary,’ ” Sims mentioned.
Victoria police initially advised Sims they believed a criminal offense had been dedicated as a result of there have been two victims.
Sims-Somerville’s buddy, Brooklyn Friese, had additionally been rushed to hospital from the identical get together and was placed on life assist however survived a near-fatal overdose of GHB and Rohypnol.
The physician within the ICU that evening advised Sims he suspected foul play.
In September 2022, police closed their investigation with out recommending costs, and the coroners service concluded the loss of life was unintended, based mostly on the police investigation.
Sims believes Samantha was murdered. She believes the 2 younger girls have been intentionally recruited by a mutual buddy, invited to a celebration on Yates Road with older males they didn’t know, and drugged with deadly doses of GHB. A number of of the lads who have been there that evening are identified to police.
She has filed a grievance with the Workplace of the Police Criticism Commissioner towards the three officers who investigated Samantha’s loss of life, alleging officers ignored necessary proof, together with messages despatched by the buddy who invited her daughter and Friese to the get together.
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The messages say the ladies have been drugged and names the person who might have drugged them. Sims additionally alleges that the officers didn’t look into the buddy’s involvement in Samantha’s loss of life.
Sims is interesting the coroner’s discovering that Samantha’s loss of life was unintended.
Final week, she wrote to appearing chief coroner John McNamee, interesting to him on to reopen an investigation.
“I simply mentioned, ‘Look, I’m begging you. It’s throughout the public’s curiosity. It is going to give them peace understanding that there’s some hope within the justice system,’ ” Sims mentioned. “She didn’t do that herself.”
When she acquired a response this week, she thought the short reply meant unhealthy information.
As an alternative, McNamee mentioned he would reopen the investigation based mostly on new proof that was not out there on the time the earlier investigation was accomplished.
The information is bittersweet for Sims, who mentioned she feels relieved after preventing for justice for her daughter, and disappointment and anger that she has needed to battle so arduous.
“My daughter’s gone by the hands of others however I fought and fought and fought and individuals are beginning to hear,” she mentioned.
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Victoria lawyer Donald McKay, who helps Sims, mentioned it has been an uphill battle and it wasn’t clear her efforts would ever come to something, “so that is very hopeful.”
He and Sims are nonetheless awaiting the outcomes of the grievance filed towards police.
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