British Columbia

Mother of suspicious death victim wants answers

Family and members of the Latin American community in Prince George are looking for answers following the suspicious death of a 42-year-old mother last month.

No cause of death released, but family believes a vehicle was involved

Mariluisa Goyas-Mycock's mother, Marcella Waddell and stepfather Dave Waddell want to know who killed their daughter. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)

Family and members of the Latin American community in Prince George are looking for answers following the suspicious death of a 42-year-old woman.

"I want to know who killed my daughter, I don't know," said Marcella Waddell through tears.

Mariluisa Goyas-Mycock was a mother of two from Peru. Her death in early March is the subject of two investigations, one by the RCMP and another by the Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia. 

Mariluisa Goyas-Mycock has been described by her parents as a caring and friendly woman. (Mariluisa Goyas-Mycock/Facebook)

No cause of death has been released, but family members say they believe a vehicle was involved.

"They're basically telling me she was struck by a vehicle and that's all they're saying," her husband, Dan Mycock, told CBC.

"I suppose they can't tell me everything because of the investigation and things like that," Mycock said.

"It's frustrating not knowing."

Following Goyas-Mycock's death, mourners set up a makeshift memorial in the alley where Goyas-Mycock is believed to have been found. On Wednesday, the streets surrounding that site were blocked off as IIO members visited the scene. People in the neighbourhood say they saw investigators place a mannequin in the alley.

Caring and family-oriented

On Tuesday afternoon, family members huddled together to pay tribute to Goyos-Mycock. They spoke to CBC about the woman they described as caring and family-oriented.

I want to know who killed my daughter.- Marcella Waddell 

"She was her (mother's) right arm, she did everything for her mother," said her stepfather, Dave Waddell.

"She was a fine person and didn't deserve to die like this."

Waddell said her daughter once considered becoming a nun and had a compassion for kids.

A vigil was held for Mariluisa Goyas-Mycock on Tuesday afternoon in Prince George. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)

"She would go all the time to the dollar store to buy presents for the kids," said her mother. 

Goyas-Mycock had recently started working as an educational assistant for kindergarten students at an inner-city school that emphasizes learning through an indigenous lens.

"She was friendly, never fight with anybody," her mother said. "She was peaceful lady all the time, many many friends all the time."

A public memorial for Goyas-Mycock is being held on Saturday at noon at the Christ Our Saviour Church in Prince George.

With files from the CBC's Daybreak North.


To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: Mother of suspicious death victim wants answers