SIU clears Thunder Bay, Ont., police of wrongdoing in First Nation woman's death

THUNDERSTORM, ON – The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has concluded its investigation into the death of Jenna Estberg, a 21-year-old member of the Bearskin Lake First Nation who died on December 30, 2023. The SIU announced Tuesday that it has cleared a Thunder Bay police officer of any wrongdoing in connection with Estberg’s death.

Estberg’s body was found in a Thunder Bay home about 18 months ago. Her family had previously criticized the Thunder Bay Police Service’s (TBPS) response to emergency calls before her death and raised concerns about domestic abuse.

The SIU’s investigation focused on three 911 calls made on the night of December 30, 2023. The first call, at 2:05 a.m., reported Estberg as an unwanted guest at the home. The second call, at 2:23 a.m., requested that the initial call be canceled because the caller believed Estberg had left the home. More than eight hours later, a third call at 10:34 a.m. reported that Estberg had been found in a bedroom closet. Paramedics arrived but he was pronounced dead after attempts to resuscitate him.

Citing expert medical opinion, the SIU report suggested Estberg committed suicide after his last cellphone activity at 2:42 a.m., but the cause and manner of death is being investigated by the Office of the Ontario Chief Investigator (OCC).

SIU Director Joseph Martineau found that there was no reasonable cause to believe the officer committed a criminal offence. However, the report noted that the officer involved may have “failed in his duty of care” by not attending the scene despite the call being canceled, given that Estberg’s partner had previously been arrested for domestic assault with a weapon and was under conditions that prohibited Estberg from being in his home. Martineau concluded that, in the compressed timeframe, the officer’s actions did not exceed the limits of the criminal law.

The Estberg family expressed deep disappointment with the SIU's findings, saying the report did not fully reflect the true nature of the crime. Their lawyer, Julianne Falconer, said the family is still reviewing the report and remains convinced that police action after the initial 911 call could have saved Jenna's life.

Due to the family's concerns, a complaint was also filed with the Ontario Police Chief Inspector, who is reviewing TBPS's procedures in investigating deaths and missing persons. TBPS has announced that it will conduct an administrative review into the incident.

Jenna Estberg is remembered by her family as a talented, determined young woman and advocate for women's rights, who was admired for her fashion sense, musical talent and art. Her parents emphasized their desire that she be remembered as someone who was important and deserved to be treated with dignity.

The SIU attributed the delay in releasing the report to the complexity of the investigation and resource pressures. Evidence collected included text messages, cell phone data, toxicology reports and recordings of 911 calls.

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