Family of Cheyenne Fox looking for justice

By Christine Smith (McFarlane)

TORONTO –An unprecedented $14 million lawsuit has been launched against the Toronto Police on behalf of a First Nations woman who died in Toronto under suspicious circumstances.

The family of Cheyenne Fox is hoping that justice will be served after Fox’s father, John Lilbear Fox Sr. and their lawyer John Annan served the Toronto police with papers on Sept. 15 at Police Headquarters, 30 College Street in downtown Toronto.

Fox’s family alleges that the force was negligent in the events that led up to Cheyenne’s death in April 2013, and during the subsequent police investigation that last fall was deemed closed and labeled a suicide.

In a brief press conference, Fox’s father said, “ Most of you are aware of my daughter Cheyenne Fox and the circumstances surrounding her death through the media and stories, but through the launch of this case, and hereafter you will hear the true horror of what we have been through.

“We believe that our daughter was actually murdered and it wasn’t suicide like the police have claimed. My daughter was not suicidal, she had everything going for her, and has a family who loves her and still misses her deeply today.”

Fox said the launch of this lawsuit is about accountability.

“We need accountability from the police in my daughter’s death and I want to make sure that this never happens to anyone else,” he said.

When asked what his family hopes to get from launching the lawsuit, Fox said

“The main thing is that we want the truth to come out about this, and this is the only way that we can have the truth right now regarding my daughter and what went on that evening, and why the police didn’t respond the way they should have.”