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Father looking for answers about son's Thunder Bay death

Ron Chookomolin believes son's death was a homicide, says he hasn't received updates from police for at least two weeks.
Chookomolin Goodwin
Ron Chookomolin, joined by partner Phyllis Goodwin, holds up a poster urging anyone with information surrounding the circumstances of the death of his son, 25-year-old Marlan Chookomolin, to come forward. (Matt Vis, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY – Nearly four weeks after Marlan Chookomolin was found grievously injured on a recreation trail, his father says he is still waiting for answers from investigating officers.

The 25-year-old died on June 26, one day after he was found unresponsive and injured on a pathway running parallel to the Thunder Bay Expressway near the Dawson Road intersection.

The Thunder Bay Police Service have provided few details about their investigation, publicly labelling the case as an “injured male” when they put out media releases advising of his death. Police have not said whether they suspect foul play was a factor.

Ron Chookomolin, his father, said the past number of weeks have been hard for the family.

“We haven’t received any follow-ups or reports from Thunder Bay police,” Chookomolin said on Friday. “At this time the family is waiting news on the ongoing investigation.”

Chookomolin said he believes his son’s death was a homicide.

Police spokesman Chris Adams said the case remains an acting and ongoing investigation.

“Our investigators are working diligently on this case,” Adams said.

The day after Chookomolin was found, Det. Joe Dampier said investigators were relying on the public to determine what happened leading up to the discovery.

"(On June 25) the area where the male was identified was processed by our forensics unit and a grid search was conducted by members of the emergency task unit," Dampier said on June 26.

A post-mortem was scheduled to be conducted on June 28. Chookomolin said he has spoken with an individual from the coroner’s office who has indicated that process has been completed.

Chookomolin was handing out information posters to motorists stopped at the Thunder Bay Expressway and Dawson Road intersection on Friday, hoping somebody will provide a tip that could assist the investigation.

“We’ve gone separate independently to make personal ads by the family and hope somebody in the public comes forward to provide any additional information that may be helpful in the investigation,” Chookomolin said.

“They can remain anonymous and make a call to Crime Stoppers. If anybody has any information, please, we look forward to hearing any updates in the police investigation.”


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