Prince Albert woman cut, set on fire in attack
Homeless residential school survivor so badly burned in assault her legs had to be amputated
SASKATOON — A brutal attack that left a homeless woman severely cut and burned so badly that her legs had to be amputated has shocked residents of Prince Albert.
The city’s police have made their investigation into the assault on Marlene Bird, 47, a priority, police Chief Troy Cooper said.
Bird was found in a downtown parking lot on the morning of June 1. The CBC reported Bird suffered burns so severe that both her legs had to be amputated, and that her face was badly cut.
The latest update from University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton listed her in stable condition, but she still faces numerous surgeries, including facial reconstruction.
Police have received surveillance video from downtown businesses and will spend the next few days reviewing it while others conduct field interviews, wait for forensic results and follow up on tips, Cooper said Friday.
“With something that happens in a secluded area, like where this occurred, ( it) makes it a little more difficult, but we’re doing our best to develop a timeline. The investigation is progressing, and we’ve got a ton of resources tied up on it right now. We’re hopeful and confident we’ll have some success here in the next short while.”
Cooper wouldn’t confirm the specifics of Bird’s leg injuries, but did say they were “significant and disturbing.”
Prince Albert Mayor Greg Dionne said he is outraged by the incident.
“How could anyone do that to a vulnerable person?” he asked.
Dionne said he got to know Bird and her friends through his previous job as the general manager of the downtown mall.
“I dealt with her all the time and she was harmless. And that’s what infuriates me,” he said.
Like many aboriginal people who went through the residential school system without a lucky step up, Bird fell into addictions, Dionne said.
A June 6 rally, at which more than 100 people marched and prayed, shows the city cares about her, he added.
“We don’t want it to happen again. We don’t want another vulnerable person attacked.”
The culprit is a violent person, “and we have to find them,” Dionne said. He praised the work police have done on the case.
Bird’s niece, Jamie Bird, said Thursday that her aunt suffered during her time in the residential school system. In spite of that, she “never acted hateful,” she said.
“I’ve never seen her mean — never once be mean to anybody — that’s why I don’t understand.”
Dividing her time between Montreal Lake Cree Nation and Prince Albert, Bird’s giving nature was always present, Jamie said.
About a year ago, she came into a large sum of money from a residential school settlement. Aside from buying a trailer, which she ended up having to sell simply “to survive,” she did not benefit from the bulk of her settlement, Jamie said. Instead, she opted to give the money away to help others in need.
She was a frequent bingo player. People would often wait for her outside of city bingo halls to ask her for money. “And she’d give it to them,” Jamie said. “She’s just got the biggest heart — the biggest heart. She always took care of everybody.”