RCMP are trying to piece together the events leading up to the mysterious death of a 29-year-old woman from central Alberta.
Investigators know Delaina Lace Cutarm died from being hit by a vehicle and know where that happened, but her body was not found at the collision scene and RCMP are not calling it a hit-and-run.
In the early morning hours of Friday, July 6, 2018, Maskwacis RCMP responded to a call to assist EMS in the Ermineskin community. Cutarm was found dead outside and the RCMP believe she was involved in a motor vehicle collision.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., police also attended the collision scene, which was determined to be on School House Road. Forensics and collision investigators were called in to analyze the scene.
An autopsy done on Tuesday confirmed the woman from Maskwacis’s injuries were consistent with being hit by a vehicle.
RCMP said they have done some investigating, but are not calling the incident it a hit-and-run because of a lack of information. Now police are trying to create a timeline of events to piece together what happened in the hours leading up to Cutarm’s death.
Cutarm is a mother of five young children and a member of the Ermineskin Cree Nation. Sister Leah Cutarm said Delaina was loving and carrying.
“She would always smile and always make you laugh,” she said. “There’s no words to describe how she was – beautiful, kind.”
Leah said Delaina had five children, ranging in age from two weeks old to 13 years old.
Leah said she saw Delaina the same night she was hit, but she isn’t clear what exactly happened and said the circumstances are strange.
“My mind is all over, like confused, mad, sad,” Leah said.
Leah said it is difficult for her to process everything that happened and try and move on.
“Lonely. I can’t see her anymore. It’s really hard. I can’t talk to her anymore,” she said.
The family is raising money to be put into a trust fund for Delaina’s five children.
Anyone who has any information about her activities during the evening of July 5, or the early morning of July 6, is asked to contact the Maskwacis RCMP or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.