CALGARY- The family of a woman found murdered in northeast Calgary on Thursday says her death will be felt the most by her four young children.
31-year-old Dawns Baptiste’s body was found in a yard in Whitehorn.
Baptiste’s brother says his sister had just started a new job and was excited about regaining custody of her children.
Her brother says her last words to the family were “I love you guys and will see you guys tomorrow.”
Alex Baptiste last saw his sister when they met at Scotia Centre after work on Tuesday. He says he was proud of Dawns when she landed a full time job after completing an addictions treatment program.
”She was really happy and positive about herself because she was healing and wanting to make things better for herself and prove to everybody that she can. If she could do it, then everybody else can do it,” Alex Baptiste said. “What really hurts me is that the kids are going to feel it more than anything else.”
The mother of four was working to save money to rent a place so she could get her kids back.
Police say that a struggle had taken place in the yard where Dawns Baptiste was found on Thursday.
She had been staying with friends at a nearby home in Whitethorn. She also stayed off and on at drop in centres.
“She was determined. She was never a loser; she always fought for everything, to get everything close and back together and make sure that what’s right is right,” Alex Baptiste said.
Dawns’ brother has no idea why someone would want to hurt her.
He wants people to know his sister was an outgoing, polite and determined woman whose death will impact many lives.
“I’m still feeling numb trying to process losing my baby sister,” Baptiste said. “She was on a healing journey and everything. It’s like unbelievable for things like this to happen to us, especially aboriginal women.”
“This is shocking to me shocking for anybody to lose a family member like that so young too and it’s all too common for aboriginal women getting murdered and murders unsolved.”
Calgary police have identified a man who was considered a person of interest in Baptiste’s death. Police said Sunday he was taken into custody for questioning. His name has not been released.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have seen Baptiste in the last week, or anyone with information about the incident to contact police at 403-266-1234, orCrime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. You can also text tttTIPS to 274637.
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