Mom of Haven Dubois seeks more information on boy's death

Richelle Dubois, the mother of 14-year-old Haven Dubois, says she is determined to learn more about the circumstances surrounding her son's death.

"I'm not done with this until I'm satisfied that they've looked into everything," Dubois said Wednesday following the release of a coroner's report that looked into the May 20, 2015 death of Haven. "I need to make sure that they've done their job properly."

According to the report, the Regina boy was found drowned. The report said boys who were with Haven on that day told the coroner that he suffered a bad reaction to marijuana.

The boy's mother Dubois has expressed concerns the death might have been connected to gangs. Police said foul play had been ruled out.

Coroner Maureen Stinnen interviewed a number of boys who were with Dubois, who said he was at school in the morning before getting into a car with friends.

"They apparently smoked some marijuana and they indicated that Haven began 'freaking out,'" Stinnen's report said. One of the youths Stinnen interviewed said it was Dubois's first time smoking drugs.

After getting out of the car, Dubois continued suffering ill effects and started walking away from the school, F. W. Johnson Collegiate.

Left alone on a bench

"Witnesses indicate he was 'spinning in circles' with his arms crossed at his chest," the report said.  

One witness said he sat for a while with Dubois on a bench in a park, but left him alone so he could go get a skateboard and backpack. When the boy returned, Dubois wasn't at the bench.

A friend said he last saw Dubois walking north by the creek in the area where his mother had discovered the body.

Over the noon hour, Dubois was found face down in about a metre of water. Efforts to resuscitate him failed.

Dubois had no history or depression or suicidal tendencies, the coroner said. However, a toxicology report indicated he had the active component of cannabis in his blood.

Reactions to marijuana vary, coroner says

"The effect of marijuana on individuals varies considerably, from minor effects such as general feeling of well-being, to agitation and paranoia," the report said.

"These effects are subject to dose, age and experience of the user. Even in low doses, marijuana can precipitate a panic reaction and irrational behaviour."

Stinnen said the case was thoroughly investigated by the Regina police and while "questions remain," there were no indications of foul play.

She concluded that Dubois's death was an accidental drowning with drug use a "significant contributing factor."

Mother seeks more information

Richelle Dubois said Wednesday she feels she did not get enough information from police about their investigation.

"It's so easy for them to brush it aside. It's just another dead Indian to them," Dubois said. "That's how I feel; that we're just another Indian family."

According to a spokesperson from the police, officers met with Dubois three times.

Dubois said the findings of the coroner, noting how marijuana can lead some people to panic and act irrationally, provide a possible explanation for her son's death, but she still has questions.

"l know this isn't the end of it," she said. "This little two and a quarter page [report] isn't the end of it."

Dubois added she has made a formal request to view police reports on the case.