Family seeks answers, justice in 2022 homicide

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This article was published 06/02/2023 (944 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Naturelle Cook, reminders of her late mother — and the anguish over how the woman’s life was cut short in Winnipeg — are all around her.

Memories come back to her when she sees butterflies, which Melissa Cook adored, hears certain pop or country songs or sees pedestrians while driving through her mom’s old hometown of Swan River.

“Sometimes, I think maybe my mom is one of them,” said Naturelle. “My mind still wants her to be here, but she’s not. I feel I am failing my mom by not finding out who did this to her.”

Melissa Cook, 41, died at Health Sciences Centre on Aug. 20, 2022, weeks after she was set on fire by one or more people.

No one has been charged in the homicide.

Naturelle has renewed her family’s appeal for anyone with information about her mother’s death to contact the Winnipeg Police Service.

“I just want people to know she has children who are worrying about what happened to her,” she said. “We’re still not over it and we want justice for her.

“It hurts us not knowing who did that to her. They’re still out there living and breathing, and our mom isn’t.”

Previously, police said they believe Cook suffered burns in late June or early July, but they don’t know where the attack occurred.

Cook’s family isn’t sure of the location.

Before she died, she told her former partner her legs were doused with an accelerant and set on fire over a drug debt in June, according to her daughter.

“My mom didn’t deserve to go through that,” said Naturelle, who has struggled with the brutality of the incident.

Cook, who was homeless, lived with her painful injuries for about a week before informing staff at a Winnipeg shelter.

Despite being in agony, Cook didn’t seek help immediately because she was afraid she would be attacked again, according to her family.

She was reluctant to divulge information to shelter staff, who helped her acquire new shoes and walking equipment.

Cook was admitted to the intensive care unit at Grace Hospital, and later transferred to HSC, where she underwent skin grafting.

Her family agreed to end her life support after being told an infection had spread through her body and she wouldn’t recover.

Police became involved five days later, when the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.

Cook was originally from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, about 550 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.

She struggled with drug addiction after traumatic experiences, including her children being taken into Child and Family Services care, and the deaths of her 10-month-old son in foster care, her parents and a partner, according to her daughter.

Naturelle said her mother was happy and outgoing before her drug use took over.

“She really loved us kids,” she said. “She was a very kind-hearted woman.”

Living in Winnipeg since April 2022, Cook became homeless and spent time at Siloam Mission and in the South Point Douglas neighbourhood.

She may have lived in inner-city encampments, the WPS said previously.

It’s unclear how far the investigation has progressed since police announced the homicide and issued a public appeal for tips Oct. 3.

“We have no further details to provide at this time regarding Melissa Cook,” a police spokeswoman said.

While her wait for answers continues, Naturelle is hoping the case will be solved soon. If it isn’t, she doesn’t want her mother, who had nine children, to be forgotten.

“For me, right now, my hopes are very high. One day, I hope they catch whoever did that to her,” she said.

Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the major crimes unit at 204-986-6219 or CrimeStoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477.

Winnipeg police investigated a single-year record 53 homicides in 2022.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching