WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER?
KEPT IN THE DARK
Grieving mom believes her daughter, a mother of two young girls, was murdered in the East Vancouver home she rented
The grieving mother of a 22-yearold Vancouver woman who died under suspicious circumstances more than a week ago says police have kept her in the dark about the death.
Marlene Douglas, whose daughter, Jasmine Onland was rushed to hospital on Feb. 13, believes her daughter was murdered.
But Douglas, an East Vancouver resident, said she is frustrated because neither the coroner nor police have been forthcoming about what happened.
“She was engaged to be married, happy, doing good,” her mother said of Onland, who had two daughters, aged four and two.
Police are only saying Onland suffered critical injuries inside a home she rented in the 3200-block East 8th Avenue on Feb. 13.
Douglas said her daughter had never been in trouble and planned on going to culinary school in the near future.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” she said of the apparent injuries. “All of a sudden our daughter is gone.”
Douglas talked to the police and the coroner and was told only that her daughter died from “blunt-force trauma.”
“That means my daughter was murdered,” said Douglas, adding that police will not tell her if they are treating the death as a homicide.
She believes her daughter suffered a major head wound from whatever happened inside the home.
“There has been no explanation of what happened,” said Douglas. “How big is the wound?”
Douglas wonders if a home invasion claimed the life of her daughter.
Onland’s funeral is today and Douglas said it will be the first time she has seen her since she was rushed to hospital.
Vancouver police are releasing few details and by late Tuesday they were only confirming they are investigating the suspicious death.
VPD Const. Jana Mcguinness said they would not comment further.
“We are unable to share any information about the identity of the deceased,” she told The Province.
A longtime neighbour of the family said Onland was a “sweet” young woman who lived for her children. She also said neighbours are wondering why so little has been released about the death.
“She was so devoted to her kids, she was such a good mom,” said Connie, a neighbour who didn’t want her last name used.
“I am so shocked,” she said. “This is not a girl who went out partying, that is what is so disturbing. She went berry picking, bike riding, she enjoyed the simple things in life.
“This is so sad and what is even sadder is no one has told her mom what has happened. Her mother is so overwhelmed wondering what has happened.”
Onland’s two young children have been placed with family members, and a judge will decide where they will live permanently.