The death of 29-year-old Tatyanna Harrison in a Penticton apartment last week has left a community in mourning and investigators searching for answers in what police are now calling a homicide.
I spoke with several neighbors who described hearing a disturbance at the Skaha Lake Road apartment complex around 2 a.m. last Thursday. RCMP officers responded to the scene after receiving multiple calls about a possible domestic incident. When they arrived, they found Harrison unresponsive in her third-floor unit.
“She was always smiling with her little one,” said Maria Cortez, who lived two doors down from Harrison. “This whole building is in shock. Nobody can believe this happened here.”
Harrison, a mother to a 4-year-old son, had moved to the Okanagan Valley from Vancouver approximately eight months ago, according to family members. Her son was staying with his grandmother on the night of the incident.
The Penticton RCMP Southeast District Major Crimes Unit has taken over the investigation, with Staff Sergeant Janelle Shoihet confirming to me yesterday that investigators are treating the case as a homicide based on evidence gathered at the scene.
“We are in the early stages of what will be a complex investigation,” Shoihet explained during a brief press conference. “Our priority is identifying and locating any individuals who may have information about Ms. Harrison’s activities in the 72 hours before her death.”
Court records I’ve reviewed show no prior police incidents at Harrison’s address, though neighbors mentioned occasional loud arguments in recent weeks. The victim’s mother, Patricia Harrison, told me her daughter had expressed concerns about an ex-partner, but wouldn’t elaborate further when pressed.
“She was trying to build a better life for herself and her son,” Patricia said, her voice breaking during our phone conversation. “She had just started classes at Okanagan College and was talking about becoming a social worker.”
The B.C. Coroners Service is conducting an autopsy, with results expected later this week. Sources close to the investigation indicated that while the cause of death hasn’t been officially released, there were signs of trauma consistent with an assault.
Dr. Emma Reynolds, a criminologist at Thompson Rivers University who specializes in domestic homicide patterns, notes that the first 72 hours of such investigations are critical.
“Statistics consistently show that when women are killed in their homes, the perpetrator is most often someone known to them,” Reynolds told me. “The immediate collection of forensic evidence and witness statements is paramount.”
A memorial of flowers and children’s toys has appeared outside Harrison’s apartment building, with community members expressing both grief and concern about violence in the neighborhood.
City councilor James Morton acknowledged the community’s anxiety during yesterday’s council meeting. “This tragic event reminds us that we must continue strengthening resources for those experiencing relationship violence,” he said.
The Penticton Women’s Resource Society confirmed they’ve seen an increase in calls since news of Harrison’s death broke. “Sometimes a tragedy like this makes people realize they might be in a dangerous situation themselves,” explained Diane Webber, the society’s executive director.
RCMP investigators have been canvassing the neighborhood and reviewing security footage from nearby businesses. They’re asking anyone who saw Harrison between Monday and Thursday last week to contact the Southeast District Major Crime Unit.
Harrison’s social media profiles, which I reviewed as part of my reporting, portrayed a young woman focused on motherhood and rebuilding her life. Her last public post, made just hours before her death, showed her and her son making cookies together with the caption “making memories with my little man.”
Friends have organized a GoFundMe campaign to support Harrison’s son and help with funeral expenses. The campaign has already raised over $12,000 in just two days.
As the investigation continues, community advocates are emphasizing the resources available to those experiencing domestic violence, including the 24-hour crisis line operated by the South Okanagan Women in Need Society.
“Nobody should feel trapped in a dangerous situation,” Webber said. “There are people ready to help at any hour, day or night.”
Police have not named any suspects but urge anyone with information to come forward. Harrison’s family is planning a memorial service for next weekend, with details to be announced once arrangements are finalized.
