Sandy Pitzel (left) with her son Jordan Norfield. (submitted photo/Lakefield Law)

By Nigel Maxwell

Unanswered questions

Family members looking forward to scheduled coroner’s inquest, await answers to lingering questions

Oct 26, 2023 | 5:00 PM

A woman whose son passed away while in police custody said she feels heartbroken and has many unanswered questions.

That’s according to a statement provided to paNOW on Thursday by the Lakefield Law group, on behalf of Sandy Pitzel; and comes ahead of next week’s scheduled coroner’s inquest at the Coronet Hotel in Prince Albert.

Pitzel’s son Jordan Norfield died at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert on Dec. 5, 2020. Just three days prior, he had been transferred there by ambulance from the custody of the city’s police service.

Norfield had actually been arrested on Dec. 1. and according to a media release at the time from police, was apprehended on a detention order under the Public Health Act. Among the questions raised by the family, is how Jordan went from being physically healthy on Nov. 30, 2020 to dying five days later.

“Sandy and her family look forward to hearing the evidence and recommendations arising from the upcoming coroner’s inquest into his death,” the statement said.

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Five days have been set aside for the public inquest that was originally scheduled to run last June but was adjourned at the request of the family’s counsel. In the meantime, family members are remembering Jordan as a loving, fun, resilient, and bright young man who made friends wherever he went and loved being in nature. They also said he never failed to make everyone laugh, especially his mom and sister.

“Although Jordan had some struggles, he was a story of resiliency, strength, and perseverance. He had been making great strides toward change and was working hard to improve his life. The month before he passed away, Jordan was accepted into a year long treatment program for alcoholism. Jordan and his family were so excited for him to succeed,” the statement explained.

Family members also noted how grateful they are his death is being taken seriously.

“Although there are lingering questions around Jordan’s final days, they are glad the public will hear answers with them. They look forward to the coroner’s inquest and recommendations made in hopes that more tragic deaths like Jordan’s can be prevented.”

Section 20 of The Coroners Act, states the chief coroner shall hold an inquest into the death of a person who dies while an inmate at a jail or a correctional facility, unless the coroner is satisfied that the person’s death was due entirely to natural causes and was not preventable.

The purpose of an inquest is not to lay blame but rather to establish who died, when and where that person died and the medical cause and manner of death. The coroner’s jury may make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell