‘Devastating, heartbreaking’: Tributes pour in for mother, infant killed in Yukon bear attack

WHITEHORSE – People across social media are sending their condolences and support to a grieving man, after his wife and infant daughter were killed in a bear attack in the Yukon.

A grizzly is being blamed in the attack, which left 37-year-old Valerie Theoret and 10-month-old Adele Roesholt dead.

Social media users have called this a “devastating,” and “heartbreaking” tragedy, some calling it a “horrible accident.”

The Yukon Coroner’s Service says in a release that it received notice of the deaths in the Einarson Lake area near the Northwest Territories border.

According to the service, the RCMP received a call at around 3:45 p.m. Monday from a trapper, who has since been identified as Gjermund Roesholt.

The man is said to have been out checking a trapline when the service says he was charged by a grizzly about 100 metres from a cabin he shared with his wife and infant daughter.

It says he shot the bear dead, but when he returned to his cabin, he found Theoret and their child’s bodies outside.

Mother remember as kind, energetic person

Theoret had been on maternity leave from her job at Yukon Elementary, where she was a French immersion instructor for students who got into it later on in their schooling, when she was killed.

Friend and former boss Margriet Aasman, who worked with Theoret at a graphic design company before leaving to teach, says she was one of her “best designers.”

She says she had gone to visit Theoret after the birth of her daughter.

“I have not talked to her since then,” she tells NEWS 1130. We had been back-and-forth through email, sharing thoughts about things, but we hadn’t been meeting with each other.”

WATCH: Tragic bear attack in the Yukon

 

Aasman describes the mother as a “kind” and “energetic” person, who was full of life and an “extremely creative person.”

The 37-year-old was also strong, Aasman adds.

“She didn’t do sports or any of that kind of thing on a professional or semi-professional way, but I kayak, and she was just dying to do this little race. She suggested we do it together,” Aasman recalls.

Aasman says Theoret always went “above and beyond”. While a talented artist, Aasman adds Theoret was modest.

“She was just full of life and creativity and energy, and was always, always interested in other people and other things and whatever went on around her. And when she’d talk to you, she would just look right at you and be so engaged,” Aasman said, fighting back tears. “She had so much to live, yet.”

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