A woman found dead at a south-side hotel last week was killed by blunt-force trauma, police confirmed Thursday following a post-mortem examination.
Thunder Bay Police Service officials say a hotel worker at the Travelodge Hotel on Arthur Street discovered the body of 30-year-old Verna Patricia Sturgeon, of Big Trout Lake, Friday, Sept. 3. Police later charged Joanne Vivier, 33, and Michelle Morris, 28, with first-degree murder.
The victim was a witness for the Crown in another case and that is why she was in the city, however, police say they have no reason to believe that fact is linked to the woman’s death.
"Investigators were not able to find any link between the circumstances of her being a witness and her becoming a victim in this homicide," said Thunder Bay Police Service spokesman Chris Adams.
Police say Vivier surrendered herself at the Balmoral Street police station the day the body was discovered at the hotel. Police officers later arrested Morris at a south-side residence without incident.
Det. Ryan Gibson said last week that alcohol was believed to be involved, but said he couldn’t reveal any other details until a post-mortem was completed. He added that police believe the incident was not a random act of violence.
"I feel the case is very strong at this time and it’s a very serious charge…it’s as serious as it gets," Gibson said at a news conference police held last week. "This wasn’t an attack out of nowhere. As far as how well they knew each other…I think it will be too early at this point in the investigation to comment on that."
