‘I feel like I lost my best friend’: mom

The mother of a girl who was slain on her 17th birthday said she was a positive role model who was well-liked by people in her northern community.

“I feel like they stole a piece of my heart. I can hardly eat. I can hardly sleep. I feel like I lost my best friend,” said Ashley Jenson about her daughter Heavenlee. “Every time I had some exciting news or something to talk about, she was the first one I’d tell.”

On May 12 around 4 a.m., Heavenlee Jensen was found dead after Moose Lake RCMP responded to a report about an injured person at a home on the Mosakahiken Cree Nation, a 650-kilometre drive northwest of Winnipeg.

RCMP did not name the victim in a May 12 news release, but Ashley Jensen confirmed her daughter was the person killed.

“As soon as you met her, you could just tell she had a bright personality,” said Jensen through tears. “She was smart. She was very smart.”

Jensen said it was common for Heavenlee to invite people to stay for supper or sleep over if they had nowhere to go, as she was not only a great big sister to her seven siblings, but to many other youngsters as well.

“Everyone looked up to my daughter. She was a good role model,” she said. “She would always include people.”

No arrests have been announced. Jensen said it’s her understanding RCMP did question several people, whom her daughter didn’t really know, but they were released.

She said RCMP are waiting for autopsy results.

Jensen, who is making funeral arrangements, urged anyone with information to come forward.

“If anybody knows anything, please,” she said. Adding later: “My baby didn’t deserve what happened to her.”

RCMP say anyone with information should call the Moose Lake detachment at 204-678-2399, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

morgan.modjeski@freepress.mb.ca