The partner of a man discovered deceased in the snow following a crash in Ottawa last week is fondly recalling him as a dedicated father who put in long hours and was close to reuniting with his family.
“He was almost home,” Loraleigh Bailey expressed, referring to the spot where her companion Cole Misner’s minivan had an accident on a rural road near the southern Ottawa community of Vernon late Friday night.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), Ontario’s police oversight body, reported that Ottawa police were called at 11:30 p.m. that night regarding a vehicle rollover.
According to the SIU, officers did not find anyone in or near the vehicle and subsequently departed from the scene.
However, the next day, a police officer returned to the location and discovered a deceased man under the snow nearby.
Bailey, aged 25, has confirmed Misner, aged 24, as the individual found near the crash site, which is merely about 13 kilometers from the couple’s residence in Winchester.
Bailey and Misner had been in a relationship for several years, had two children, and were set to marry this autumn, along with other life aspirations that have now been disrupted.
“This was something completely unexpected,” she remarked on Misner’s passing.
Awaiting Clarification
The SIU has stated that its inquiry is ongoing.
The unit previously mentioned that it is examining the circumstances surrounding Misner’s death because Ottawa police officers “may have been in and around the area at the time of [Misner’s] death.”
Investigations focus on whether police could face criminal charges under specific circumstances, such as a fatality or severe injury. Typically, a detailed report of the incident follows months after the SIU’s involvement, when initial information may be scarce.
Bailey expressed her difficulty in not knowing when she will receive more information but acknowledged that investigators have “a significant task ahead.”
“I seek the truth just as eagerly as they do, if not more,” she added.
Bailey expressed deep gratitude for the support from relatives and friends as she navigates being a single mother arranging her late partner’s funeral.
Though her two-year-old boy and one-year-old girl may be too young to fully comprehend the situation, Bailey mentioned that they sense something is amiss.
“Last night when I put them to bed, they actually asked me for their dad,” Bailey shared.
“I am working on compiling memories so that as they grow older, they can learn about him and understand how much he cared for them.”
A Final Conversation
Both Bailey