Family of Indigenous woman reassured her death was an accident, say Charlottetown Police

Charlottetown Police say the family of an Indigenouswoman found dead 41 years ago has beenreassuredher death was "nothing short of a tragic accident."

On Friday, police met with members of Mary Francis Paul's family at the scene of her death on Water Street in Charlottetown, and shared details of the autopsy report from 1977.

Deputy Chief Brad MacConnellarranged the meeting, two weeks after Paul's daughter Barbara Bernardtold the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, that the family has for decades had questions about how her mother died, and how police handled the investigation.

"It was certainly a tragedy with no foul play involved," said MacConnell. "And if anything was accomplished at our meeting Friday, it's that we were able to reassure the Bernard family of that."

'No signs of external trauma'

Bernard told the inquiry that after her mother's death, the family was told she had fallen and broken her neck.

Twelveyears later, when she went looking for more information, Bernard saidan officer told her her mother'sbody was found stuffed inside a metal drum.

MacConnell saidneither of those details are true, and that he's not sure how that information was relayed to Bernard.

The deputy chief saidaccording to the autopsy report,Paul's body was found laying in awindow well, at the back of a building on Water Street, which was regularly used as a secluded hangout spot.

MacConnell said the coroner ruled Paul'sdeath was caused by a combination of "acute alcoholism, aspiration, and exposure."

"There's no signs of any external trauma," said MacConnell. "So what it's believedhappened at the time is Mrs. Paul was probably sitting on this window well, and due to her intoxication level, had fallen backwards [into the window well]."

Investigation handled properly, says deputy chief

The deputy chief saidPaul's body was discovered the morning after her death.

While there's no longer a file detailingthe investigation that took place following the discovery, MacConnellsaidoneof the now retired officers,who was one of the first on the scene41 years ago, also metwith the family Friday.

Based on the officers' recount of theinvestigation, the deputy chief saidhe'sconfident the casewas handled properlyand that Paul's death was not suspicious.

"Nothing is 100 per cent certain," said MacConnell."But I don't think it's proper for me to question the professionals at the time, and the medical evidence which is irrefutable."

The deputy chief saidif there's anything police should take away fromthis case, it's the need to communicate properly with victims' families.

"Whywe ended up in a meeting with the Bernard family is that they were never given accurate information," said MacConnell. "Iwould hope that if that happened today, we would certainly make every effort we could to make sure all family members were informed to the circumstances."

CBCreached out to the Bernard family for comment.In an email, Barbara Bernard declined to do an interview, saying she wanted police to speak on the family's behalf.

She did say in the email she felt "okay"about the outcome of Friday's meeting with police.

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