'Right now it's surreal': Horrific crime sends shockwaves through Watson Lake

Counsellors in Watson Lake, Yukon, are encouraging people to cry, write, talk and scream anything to express their feelings after a horrific murder in the community.

RCMP found partial remains of a body at an industrial property last weekend. Travis Dennis, 22, has been charged with second-degree murder and dismembering a body. Now several counsellorshave travelled to Watson Lake for emergency trauma support sessions.

• Watson Lake man charged with murder and dismembering a body

The court has ordered a ban on publishing the name of the deceased. However, community members say they know the person's identity.

Community members were reluctant tospeak with CBC, but several said they're mourning someone who wasfull of life, gregarious and popular.

"It's devastated our whole community," saidSherry Botterill,a long-time community volunteer who spoke outside the Watson Lakefood bank.

"Theobvious evidence of the RCMP being in our community is overwhelming," she said. "Everywhere you go there's private investigators. You see them in the bush, all over the place.

"Everybody talks about it and it's very mentally draining for the whole community."

People in Watson Lake say police dogs, boats and officers from Yukon's Major Crimes unit have been scouring a wooded area at an industrial site near the community.

The RCMP have promised to update the community of about 1,400 people on Saturday.

"I have no idea how someone could do this," wrote ayoung woman onFacebook. "Right now it's surreal."

Young woman dies suddenly

The Liard First Nation and community of Watson Lake is also organizing a vigil tonight at Wye Lake cabin to remember a young woman who also died suddenly in the community last week.

Yukon's chief coroner is investigating the death of 27-year-old Tiffany Rose Ann Jimmy, who was found dead last Monday.

The coroner has said her death is not considered suspicious.

"When you're in shock, it can be difficult to cry," explains Andy Nieman, a counsellor with theKwanlinDn First Nation in Whitehorse who travelledto the community.

"But when the brain and the heart hears another person share, that can trigger them and help them release some of the shock," he said.

"It's very important that we come together and do a circle and have a debriefing like this. We'll be doing a circle tonight and tomorrow and for as long as the community needs us."

Trauma support sessions are being offered until Saturday in Watson Lake at Two Mile Hall and the Wye Lake Park cabin.

Nieman says more sessions could be added, and noted that counsellors will also do house calls if someone asks.