Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Daina Gauthier in Prince Albert.
Police say officers were called to a report of a stabbing on 14th Street East in the city’s downtown around 1:55 a.m. CST Thursday. Gauthier was found with serious injuries and later died in hospital.
“She always had a smile on whenever she came by,” said Jonathan James Morin, Gauthier’s uncle. “She always showed respect. She never treated anybody badly.”
A memorial near the scene on Friday had candles, flowers and tobacco, as people stopped to pay their respects.
The Prince Albert Police Service said an autopsy was completed on Thursday and the major crimes unit is investigating Gauthier’s death as a homicide.
A 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were arrested Thursday and have each been charged with second-degree murder, police said in a news release.
The teens are in custody and are scheduled to appear in Prince Albert provincial court on Tuesday. Their identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Morin said Gauthier, who was a mother, was affectionately known as “Baby Moose” by family and friends. He described her as someone who stood up for herself and cared about the people around her.
“She made an impression on my life and gave me more of a reason to keep myself grounded,” Morin said.
“The world’s not fair; life is not fun. But you’ve got to make do with what you’ve got, and she did. I’m going to miss her.”
Earnest Deschambeault, a family worker at the Prince Albert Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, said he knew Gauthier as a client.
“She was a very kind, caring and compassionate person,” he said. “She was always happy and smiling as well.”
He noted she was “very loved” in the community and that her death is a profound loss.
“It’s had a big impact. It’s been heavy down here since it happened,” he said.
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