Mother identifies daughter who died after assault
EDMONTON — A teen who died after an assault in northeast Edmonton Friday has been identified by her mother as 13-year-old Sierra Chalifoux-Thompson. Homicide detectives are treating her death as suspicious.
Chalifoux-Thompson, who went by the nicknames Cece and Brownie, was an amazing, happy kid who was full of love, her mother Angela Chalifoux wrote in a Facebook message to Postmedia. She loved music, drawing, anime, skateboarding, soccer, BMX, and camping with her family.
“She was a strong brave girl, beautiful inside and out,” her mom wrote. “Sierra had a special effect on people by making them laugh or feel good when they didn’t want to, or when she would walk into a room her presence was well known it could be felt.”
Chalifoux-Thompson was a Grade 8 student at Cardinal Leger Catholic Junior High. She lived in Edmonton with her mother, her step-father and four of her siblings.
Her mother said the pair shared a close bond and could talk about anything, and they were best friends.
Chalifoux said she can’t understand how anyone could hurt her daughter.
“She had so much love to share which makes this so hard to accept. Who would want to hurt her like this? I’m shocked and extremely hurt. As are her siblings,” she said.
“She always tried her best helping when she could. She often bragged about being the bully to the bullies, meaning she stood up for those she felt couldn’t stand up for them self. She didn’t like seeing anyone hurt.”
Chalifoux said her daughter was not afraid to speak her mind and had a bit of a bad temper.
But she also helped keep the home balanced, her mother said, and helped with caring for the younger children and was protective of her older sister Fayden.
The family moved to Edmonton from High Prairie in 2012 after Chalifoux’s former relationship ended, and she wanted her kids to have an opportunity for a better life, Chalifoux said. Her father works in B.C., and she has three other half-siblings.
Chalifoux said she can’t and won’t accept what has happened to her daughter.
“We are all devastated with this situation, I still haven’t accepted the reality of it all … what mother could,” she wrote. “Nobody expects this to happen. This is my biggest fear was to lose a child.”
Spokeswoman for Edmonton Catholic Schools Lori Nagy said in a statement Monday the divisions’ critical response team would be at the school Monday to support and speak with students and staff. Mental health therapists, social workers and psychologists have also been called in for help, Nagy said.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. Police are still looking to speak to witnesses of the assault. Police responded to the report of an assault just after 11 p.m. Friday night. Upon arrival, officers found a girl with serious injuries. She was treated on scene and taken to hospital by paramedics, where she later died.