Sister of homicide victim Autumn Cross Child speaks out – Calgary

Journey plans, returning to high school and dancing in additional powwows will go unfulfilled for 24-year-old Autumn Cross Little one after Calgary law enforcement officials discovered her lifeless in a Castleridge residence on June 17.

Based on her sister Nikki, Autumn additionally had plans to hitch her 5 nieces and nephews on the zoo.

“She at all times needed to preserve suspending stuff,” Nikki informed World Information. “Final time she went to hang around was a pair weeks in the past.

“We made these plans and we by no means obtained to see her.”

Nikki describes her sister as candy and sort. Autumn’s journey plans ranged from going to powwows to competing as a jingle gown dancer to visiting the large apple, New York.

“She was a jingle gown dancer and he or she simply actually loved that point with our (household),” Nikki stated, noting a brand new jingle gown was within the works for her sister. “Earlier than my grandparents handed away, she at all times talked about that point and we had plans to return to doing that.”

Their uncle made inquiries a couple of wellness test for Autumn. The household didn’t hear something till Friday.

“I used to be truly on the prepare with my two infants and my daughter, and he had referred to as me and all he stated was, ‘Autumn’s lifeless,’” she recollects.

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A name from police shortly after confirmed the information. Autumn was the town’s fifteenth murder in 2022.

The mom of 5 tried to begin comforting her daughter whereas additionally comforting herself.

“(My daughter) began crying and I had quite a lot of feelings. I used to be indignant and mad and crying, and I regretted not checking on her that Tuesday,” Nikki stated. “I used to be presupposed to go see her. She had some presents for my daughter that she by no means obtained to present her.”

Following an post-mortem, police consider Autumn’s demise was a domestic-related murder and the sufferer and accused have been in an intimate-partner relationship.

Nikki recalled seeing warning indicators as the connection developed.

“It began gradual after we knew she was getting abused as a result of we’ve seen marks on her and the marks obtained worse and worse,” Nikki stated.

“All of us knew what was happening. My uncle, my brother and my mother – even my daughter, she’s 14.

“It’s heartbreaking that the one method she obtained out of it was via this fashion.”

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Police arrested and questioned Brandon Yellowfly, 24, whom investigators decided was a suspect within the demise.

“It’s heartbreaking as a result of there have been assets on the market,” Nikki stated.

Yellowfly is because of seem in court docket on June 22.

“I want I might have helped her, I actually want I might have helped her. I attempted, although. All of us tried,” the older sister stated.

“I want we might do our plans that we had and inform her I really like her.”

The Calgary Ladies’s Emergency Shelter’s 24-hour household violence helpline could be reached by calling 403-234-7233 (SAFE)