Resolute Bay, Nunavut — Tracy Kalluk's voice shakes when asked what she misses most about her mother, Tabitha Kalluk, who was found dead in her home with battery acid and gas-line antifreeze in her blood on Christmas Day 2002 in Resolute Bay, Nunavut.
"Her hugs," Kalluk said. "Her voice."
RCMP started a murder investigation into the death of the 38-year-old Inuk mother of six, but it didn't garner enough evidence to prove as a homicide, even with the autopsy finding battery acid and antifreeze in her blood.Tracy Kalluk, who is Tabitha's eldest daughter, said she doesn't know what happened to her mother, but she believes police tried to be diligent in their handling of the case.
"I understand they did what they could do and what they have to do with their protocols," Kalluk said.
"The only part that I wasn't satisfied with was them not finding out who murdered my mom."
RCMP from the Resolute Bay detachment, and then from the major crimes unit based in Iqaluit, found the death suspicious, but couldn't find enough evidence to determine it was homicide.
"That's their indication, that she was murdered," Tracy said of the autopsy report. "But then other people were kind of skeptical and still kind of tried to say that she committed suicide."
Nunavut RCMP say the case is not closed, but it remains at a standstill. There are no suspects at this time.
"It could be a medical, it could be suspicious. It's very borderline," said Sgt. Yvonne Niego of the RCMP's "V" Division.
"Unless there's further information that can be followed up on, it's at a standstill."
The last time Tracy Kalluk saw her mother, whom she remembers as a creative cook, was shortly after her 20th birthday on Christmas Eve.
The family didn't get to spend Christmas morning together, and Kalluk said she lives without closure on what happened the night her mother died. But she believes her mother did not make the choice to die.
"I don't think she did. My mom was the type of person that was kind of scared of death," Tracy said. "She tried to keep herself safe, always be on the safe side."
If you have any information regarding the death of Tabitha Kalluk, you are encouraged to contact the RCMP- Resolute Bay detachment at 867-252-0123.
