Some heartbreaking testimony at the city inquest into the death of 18 year old Curran Strang in 2005.
The first to testify today was Colleen Estes, a missionary to the people of Pikangikum where Strang was from. Estes says the social problems for young people in the community caused a rash of suicides. She testified that “our kids go to more funerals than birthday parties.”
Two young people who were with Strang on September 22nd testified that they were part of a group of six or seven that went to the bank of the McIntyre River to binge drink alcohol. Both testified that a passed out Strang was left on his own at the drinking site. Four days later his body was found with “evidence of drowning.”
Earlier, his sister Eveleen Keeper, couldn’t acknowledge whether she was aware of any possible substance abuse problems Strang may have had or his alcohol issues while he was living in Thunder Bay.
