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EXCLUSIVE: Death of 23-year-old woman found in Fraser River classified as 㽶Ƶֱundetermined㽶Ƶֱ: coroner

㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm so heartbroken for Shae. I㽶Ƶֱm disgusted with our system㽶Ƶֱ 㽶Ƶֱ Shaelene Bell㽶Ƶֱs mother
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Candles with messages from Shaelene Bell㽶Ƶֱs two boys were lit during her celebration of life at Sandpiper Resort on Saturday, June 26, 2021. Her death has been classified as 㽶Ƶֱundetermined㽶Ƶֱ by BC Coroners Service. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress file)

The death of Chilliwack㽶Ƶֱs Shaelene Keeler Bell has now been classified as 㽶Ƶֱundetermined㽶Ƶֱ by BC Coroners Service.

The report was released to Black Press Media by Bell㽶Ƶֱs mother, Alina Durham, on Thursday, Nov. 10.

㽶ƵֱUnfortunately, this is another broken system,㽶Ƶֱ Durham said after receiving the report, parts of which she thinks are misleading.

Bell, a 23-year-old mother of two, was last seen on Jan. 30, 2021 and was reported missing to Chilliwack RCMP the next day. Her body was found on June 2, 2021 in the Fraser River near Coquitlam.

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㽶ƵֱPort Authority workers found her in the Fraser River, between the Pattullo and Port Mann bridges,㽶Ƶֱ the coroner㽶Ƶֱs report stated. 㽶ƵֱAn autopsy revealed the cause of death was drowning. Additionally, there was no evidence of traumatic injury. Toxicological testing revealed the presence of her prescription medications.㽶Ƶֱ

The immediate cause of death was 㽶Ƶֱasphyxia due to, or a consequence of, drowning.㽶Ƶֱ

Coroners㽶Ƶֱ reports place the death into one of five classifications: accidental, homicide, natural, suicide, or undetermined. Bell㽶Ƶֱs death was found to be undetermined.

On Feb. 1, 2021, police found her vehicle parked at the end of Ballam Road in Chilliwack near the Fraser River and, despite extensive searches by the police and the community, she remained missing until June 2, 2021.

Police did not find evidence to support foul play.

㽶ƵֱInvestigation did not reveal how or when Shaelene Bell entered the water. Family reported she was a competent swimmer,㽶Ƶֱ the report stated. 㽶ƵֱShe attended Chilliwack (General) Hospital on the evening of Jan. 29, 2021, and staff arranged an outpatient mental health appointment as she requested help with stress.㽶Ƶֱ

Durham commented on the report after reading it.

㽶ƵֱThere㽶Ƶֱs a very misleading paragraph. I feel that they㽶Ƶֱre implying something when we have no facts based on it at all,㽶Ƶֱ she said.

㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm so heartbroken for Shae. I㽶Ƶֱm disgusted with our system.㽶Ƶֱ

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Jenna Hauck

About the Author: Jenna Hauck

I started my career at The Chilliwack Progress in 2000 as a photojournalist.
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