Police are now turning to the community to answer questions about Russia Nicholson鈥檚 murder.
鈥淩CMP are asking the public to come forward to police, as investigators work to establish a time line of the hours and moments that lead up to Russia鈥檚 death,鈥� said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O鈥橠onaghey, in a press release.
鈥淪erious crimes investigators are also looking to track the movements of Russia Nicholson鈥檚 four-door white 2010 Ford Fusion between the hours of 1 a.m. to 9 a.m., on Oct. 11, the day of her passing.鈥�
Business and area residents in the vicinity of both the 2100 block of Cooper Road, where the victim鈥檚 body was discovered and the 1300 block of Collison Road, where the victim鈥檚 vehicle was recovered, are encouraged to review their video surveillance footage for any images that show Russia鈥檚 white 2010 Ford Fusion. The Ford Fusion has distinguishing damage to its front bumper and driver鈥檚 side rear passenger window.
RCMP would like to remind the public, that investigators have reason to believe that the Oct. 11 murder of the 23-year-old was not a random attack, that the victim likely knew her attacker.
Anyone who may have witnessed anything in the area prior, or anyone with any information is asked to contact the Serious Crimes Unit of the 麻豆精选 RCMP at 250-762-3300.
COMMUNITY REACTS TO MURDER
麻豆精选 resident Russia Nicholson鈥檚 murder has shaken the community of women who are at most risk of violence.
Angie Lohr leads HOPE Outreach, a non profit organization that offers women on the street access to harm reduction tools and care items. Though her work she鈥檚 heard a lot about the Oct. 11 death that police quickly deemed a homicide due to its apparent violence.
鈥淧eople have been rocked to their soul in a bad way by this. With this and all the fentanyl deaths, everyone knows everyone who has died, and their story,鈥� said Lohr, adding that Nicholson, 23, wasn鈥檛 known to be living on the streets, but she was familiar to those who do.
Police have said that Nicholson likely knew her attacker, and that鈥檚 not surprising to Lohr.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in that world of drugs, addiction, dealing and crime, there are only three outcomes: You鈥檙e going to die, be arrested or hopefully you will come into recovery. And it鈥檚 sad.鈥�
Dealing with personal tragedy, Lohr added, has increasingly become the standard for a growing number of men and women who are either embroiled in local drug culture or are are trying to help alleviate the suffering being experienced.
鈥淪o many people see so much of this 鈥攚e鈥檝e lived through it,鈥� said Lohr said, who is also a recovering addict. 鈥淭hese girls feel that immediately. They look at their own lives, see where they鈥檝e been and they are tragically disheartened. When they lose someone, they鈥檙e losing someone from their street family. Besides what goes on, they鈥檙e still human, they still love each other.鈥�
Worse yet, violence, she said, has been increasing in frequency on 麻豆精选 streets.
鈥淥ur girls are getting raped at a higher rate, and there are assaults every night,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are a lack of shelter bed and there鈥檚 nowhere to go.鈥�
Lohr isn鈥檛 the only person who feels frustrated when this kind of incident arises.
鈥淵ou think, 鈥榠s this someone I know or someone I鈥檝e been working with?鈥� Michelle Novakowski, executive director at the Elizabeth Fry Society said. 鈥淲hat could we have done to keep her safer? In general it鈥檚 upsetting 鈥� it鈥檚 sad.鈥�
Novakowski has also said that it鈥檚 become increasingly clear that the number of women in harm鈥檚 way is increasing.
鈥淚 know just from driving around, as most of us have noticed, that there are more people on the streets,鈥� she said.
It was always hard to find accommodation in 麻豆精选, but this summer was a particular struggle.
鈥淲e have had women living in their cars, or in the summer not getting a hotel room because the cost is more prohibitive,鈥� she said. 鈥� It鈥檚 an increasing problem.鈥�
