Police have charged a woman with murder over the death of Roberta Sabourin in Hay River’s highrise this week.
Sabourin, 42, was identified by family as the victim in Wednesday’s apparent stabbing at the Hay River highrise – the third suspicious death in the apartment complex in the past three years.
On Friday morning, RCMP announced 41-year-old Lori Roberta Hansen, of Hay River, had been charged with second-degree murder.
Hansen is in custody and will appear in court on April 13.
‘You’re a legend, Roberta’
Since news of Sabourin’s death was published, family, friends and residents have been leaving their tributes.
Deanna Leonard was one of many who posted to a site commemorating Roberta Sabourin after her death on Wednesday.
She simply wrote: “You’re a legend, Roberta.”
Sabourin’s sister, Nicole, remembered Roberta as a “very happy, very fun-loving” woman.
“She had a positive attitude,” Nicole told Moose FM. “She had this contagious smile all the time and she loved to joke around, laugh and tease. That’s the way we are.
“She passed it on to others all the time and she was always there to support other people and help other people out. She put herself out there.
“She was very strong and very resilient – anything that happened to her, she always bounced back. She loved her kids very much and supported the family through whatever endeavours transpired. She was an amazing woman.”
Roberta Sabourin leaves behind four daughters and a son. She had spent almost her entire life in the community of Hay River.
An online fund is helping family members from southern provinces with the costs of travel to her funeral. The fund surpassed its $5,000 goal within hours on Thursday.
“You always treated me like family. I will not ever forget that,” Lesley Lobb wrote on the fund’s page.
“You were so funny, so caring, very smart, totally honest, always straight up , a damned hard worker and so forgiving,” read another message.
“Thank you for leaving us with such fond memories, a mental pic of your big smile, your many hugs, your loud laughter and great sense of humour. I will never forget you.”
