Coroner: only DNA can identify Iqaluit murder-suicide victims

Investigators will have to use DNA samples to legally identify the four people who died in an apparent murder-suicide that stunned Iqaluit earlier this month.

Sula Enuaraq, 29, and daughters Alexandra, 7, and Aliyah, 2, were found dead in their Tundra Valley home June 7.

The body of 44-year old Sylvain Degrasse, Enuaraq’s husband and the girls’ father, was found the same day in Iqaluit’s cemetery with a shotgun next to it.

Autopsy results revealed all four died from gunshot wounds to the head and face, said Padma Suramala, Nunavut’s chief coroner, June 20.

“At this point we are unable to identify the bodies due to the gunshot wounds to the face,” Suramala said.

The bodies must be legally identified to confirm the identities of the dead.

Suramala said DNA samples were collected from relatives of both Enuaraq and Degrasse for comparison with the victims. It’s expected the DNA tests will be complete by June 24.

Police have said they aren’t seeking suspects in connection with the shootings but are still conducting a criminal investigation.

RCMP Cst. Stephane Kilabuk said the tragedy appears to be a murder suicide, and if that’s what the investigation concludes, police involvement will end.

He said at least 10 officers are working on the case, mostly doing interviews with members of the public who have come forward with information. Police are awaiting the final autopsy report and a blood spatter analysis.

“A lot of times the public’s asking why or how this happened,” Kilabuk said. “We don’t have those answers yet.”

Suramala said the bodies of Enuaraq, Alexandra and Aliyah will be returned to Enuaraq’s family in Pond Inlet. Degrasse’s body will be returned to family in Iqauit.

Suramala said she was shocked by the killings and extends her condolences to the victims’ family.

“I’m terribly sorry for the family and the kids who lost their innocent lives in this tragedy.”

The investigation has also been emotionally tough on police, Kilabuk said.

“It’s probably one of the most difficult scenes to work in,” he said.

Last week, Iqaluit city council agreed to foot the bill for meals and accommodations for three employees of a southern company that specializes in cleaning up crime scenes.

Mayor Madeleine Redfern said most of the cost was covered by donations and funding from the Government of Nunavut, the City of Iqaluit, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Qikiqtani Inuit Association and airlines.