A Vanished Voices companion post
In the early hours of July 20, 2013, a 25-year-old Cree woman fell from the 31st-floor balcony of a downtown Toronto condo. Police called her death suspicious. More than a decade later, her family still has no answer to the question at the center of it: how did Bella Laboucan-McLean go over that railing?
Who Bella Was
Bella grew up in her mother’s community of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in northern Alberta. Her father, Billy Joe Laboucan, is Chief of the Lubicon Lake Band. She was a fancy dancer who loved the drum and pow-wows, and she made traditional beadwork, often as gifts.
She studied textiles at the University of Alberta, then moved to Toronto in the early 2010s for the fashion arts program at Humber College. Her plan was to blend Cree art and traditions with contemporary fashion. She graduated in April 2013 and was working in retail while applying to continue her studies in London, England.
Her best friend from Humber told the Toronto Star that she was the person who raised the money for the school’s fashion shows, and that she knew everyone. Her sister, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, described her as social but also a homebody.
The Night of July 19
Bella spent part of that Friday night at a Toronto nightclub, then went to an after-party in a small condo unit at CityPlace. Police say five other people were inside. Melina has said the family did not know who they were.
Bella’s phone, purse, wallet and shoes stayed in the unit.
What Happened at 4:55 a.m.
At about 4:55 a.m., a neighbour heard noises and a loud bang, and police arrived quickly. They found a woman on the ground at the base of the tower, with no identification. Because they didn’t know which unit she had fallen from, officers began knocking on doors.
Investigators believe the party was still going around five a.m. Nobody in the unit called police. About 12 hours later, around 5 p.m., someone in the unit finally did. Reports differ on whether that call reported a fall or a missing person. Everyone present told police they hadn’t noticed she was gone.
A reporter who toured the unit for APTN a year later described a balcony shaped like a small triangle, big enough for perhaps three people.
The Investigation
Toronto police classified the death as suspicious, a category that means investigators had no evidence pointing to homicide, suicide or accident. The file stayed with 14 Division’s criminal investigation bureau, and homicide detectives advised but did not take it over.
Detective Darren Worth said publicly in 2013 that he believed someone knew what had happened and was afraid of getting into trouble. In January 2014, he told the Star he didn’t think it was suicide, and added that he couldn’t make anybody talk.
Police obtained a production order for cell phone records, reviewed surveillance video, followed up with the nightclub, and had a forensic team examine the unit. By July 2014 Worth said police were close to finished, with a few loose ends. In 2015 he told CBC the file was in a “parked” position: open, but waiting on new information.
The Star reported in 2016 that an autopsy showed blunt-force trauma consistent with a fall, and that police found no reason to lay charges. Because the five people in the unit are not suspects, police have never identified them publicly. We haven’t named them either.
A Family Asking for Answers
Two weeks after Bella’s death, her family went to the media. Melina asked anyone with information to come forward and said the family wanted truth and justice for Bella. She also said they were considering hiring lawyers.
The family requested files from Toronto police and the coroner twice, the second time in 2014. As of 2015, CBC reported they had received neither the police file nor the autopsy report. Christa Big Canoe of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto, who was advising the family, said those records are essential for deciding whether to pursue civil action.
The family has consistently said Bella would never have intentionally harmed herself, and that she had no history of mental health struggles. They hold a four-day memorial each July on Lubicon land, with drumming, round dances, hide tanning and a candlelight vigil. Melina has said it’s about Bella’s life, not only her death.
Part of a Larger Pattern
In January 2014, the Toronto Star published a series about three young First Nations women who died in the city within a few months of each other in 2013. Their stories are different, and nothing publicly links them. What the women share, according to a community activist quoted in the piece, is that their families felt their deaths received little attention.
Bella’s family took part in the wider call for a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women, which ran from 2016 to 2019. Melina has said in an interview that she and her family gave testimony about Bella’s death.
Where the Case Stands
We couldn’t find a public update on the case after July 2016, so we can’t say whether Toronto police still consider it open or what work is underway. In a July 2025 interview, Melina called the case unsolved to this day.
If you have information about the night of July 19 to 20, 2013, Toronto police have said they want to hear from you and will follow up on new information. You can reach investigators at 14 Division through the Toronto Police Service.
Bella Laboucan-McLean was 25. We refuse to let this voice vanish.
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Resources:
APTN National News. (2014, January 27). Police seek to question third man about Cree woman’s mysterious Toronto condo death. APTN News. Police seek to question third man about Cree woman’s mysterious Toronto condo death – APTN News
Barrera, J., & Jackson, K. (2014, July 17). Tracing a Cree woman’s last steps before her mysterious Toronto condo death. APTN News. Tracing a Cree woman’s last steps before her mysterious Toronto condo death – APTN News
Baum, K. B. (2016, April 8). Racism, sexism taint murdered and missing cases, minister says. The Globe and Mail, 1, 10. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1215293082/
Bella Laboucan-McLean: One shattered dream and a devastated family. (2016, October 6). Calgary Journal. Bella Laboucan-McLean: One shattered dream and a devastated family – Calgary Journal
CBC News. (n.d.). Bella Marie Laboucan-McLean. In Missing & murdered: The unsolved cases of Indigenous women and girls. Bella Marie Laboucan-McLean
CBC News. (2013, August 2). Alberta woman’s family says fatal 31-storey fall ‘a nightmare’. Alberta woman’s family says fatal 31-storey fall ‘a nightmare’ | CBC News
Hong, J. (2016, July 25). Why did Bella fall from the 31st floor? Toronto Star, 33, 39. https://www.newspapers.com/image/950857706/
Klein, N. (2014, December 20). No one saw anything. The Globe and Mail, 43. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1217171895/
Melina Laboucan-Massimo: Indigenous wisdom and the fight for justice [Audio podcast episode]. (2025, July 21). In No Small Endeavor. Melina Laboucan-Massimo: Indigenous Wisdom and the Fight for Justice
Wynn-Grant, R. (Host). (n.d.). Fighting violence against the Lubicon Cree land with Melina Laboucan-Massimo [Audio podcast episode]. In Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant. PBS Nature. Fighting Violence Against the Lubicon Cree Land with Melina Laboucan-Massimo | Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant | Podcast | Nature
Zerbisias, A. (2013, August 2). Woman’s fatal condo fall spurs pointed questions from mourners. Toronto Star. Woman’s fatal condo fall spurs pointed questions from mourners
Zerbisias, A. (2014a, January 19). Six people were in a small condo. No one reported her fall. Toronto Star. Six people were in a small condo. No one reported her fall
Zerbisias, A. (2014b, January 19). Three women. Three deaths. One thing in common. Toronto Star, 27, 30, 31. https://www.newspapers.com/image/950827470/
Zerbisias, A. (2014c, July 19). Aboriginal student’s death remains mystery. Toronto Star, 43, 46. https://www.newspapers.com/image/950787982/
Further Reading: Thirty-One Floors: The Death of Bella Laboucan-McLean
Thank you for listening. These are the articles and resources behind the episode, plus ways to learn more and get support. Some outlets limit free reading, so a few links may ask you to sign in or register.
About Bella’s Case
- Woman’s fatal condo fall spurs pointed questions from mourners, Toronto Star, August 2, 2013. The first major story, when Bella’s family went public and the lead detective shared his view.
- Six people were in a small condo. No one reported her fall, Toronto Star, January 19, 2014. A profile of Bella’s life, friendships and plans, plus where the investigation stood six months in.
- Tracing a Cree woman’s last steps before her mysterious Toronto condo death, APTN News, July 17, 2014. Reporting on the investigation, the unit and the launch of the It Starts With Us database.
- Bella Marie Laboucan-McLean, CBC’s “Missing & Murdered” project. A profile covering police work on the case, the family’s requests for records, and their legal advisor’s view.
- Alberta woman’s family says fatal 31-storey fall ‘a nightmare’, CBC News, August 2, 2013. An early report on Bella’s death and her family’s appeal for information.
- Why did Bella fall from the 31st floor?, Toronto Star, July 25, 2016 (shared via NationTalk). A three-year update from the family, including the annual memorial on Lubicon land.
- No One Saw Anything: Bella and the “Heart and Soul” of Community, Naomi Klein, December 2014. A personal essay by a friend of Bella’s sister about the memorial at the site and the neighbourhood where she died.
In Her Family’s Words
- It Starts With Us: Bella’s story. The tribute page created by Bella’s family, part of a community-led database honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women.
- Melina Laboucan-Massimo on No Small Endeavor, 2025. Bella’s sister discusses Bella, her advocacy and the national inquiry.
- Melina Laboucan-Massimo on the Going Wild podcast, PBS Nature. A conversation about Lubicon Cree land, climate justice and the family’s testimony to the inquiry.
The Bigger Picture
- The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry ran from 2016 to 2019 and published a final report with Calls for Justice. You can find the report on the inquiry’s official website.
- Mysterious, Tragic Death of Aboriginal Activist’s Sister Renews Calls for National Inquiry, Indian Country Today, August 13, 2013. An early national summary linking Bella’s death to the call for an inquiry.
- Three women, three deaths. The Toronto Star ran a January 2014 series on three young First Nations women who died in Toronto in 2013, including Bella. Search the Star’s archive for the series title.
If You Have Information
Toronto police have said they want to hear from anyone with information about the night of July 19 to 20, 2013. You can contact the Toronto Police Service and ask for 14 Division.
Support
This episode deals with a death and with the loss of an Indigenous woman. If it brings up feelings for you, these free services are available:
- MMIWG Crisis Line: 1-844-413-6649, for anyone affected by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
- Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310, or chat at hopeforwellness.ca, for First Nations, Inuit and Métis people, 24 hours a day.
- 9-8-8: Call or text 9-8-8, Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24 hours a day.
- Talk4Healing: 1-855-554-4325, a helpline for Indigenous women.
If you or someone near you is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.