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RCMP say image didn't depict arm waving for help in burning house

A photo released by the City of North Battleford went viral.

NORTH BATTLEFORD – An image of a house consumed by flames in North Battleford didn't depict a person’s hand waving for help out of the window, say RCMP.  A house fire at 952 – 105th Street in North Battleford on June 15 had claimed the life of 20-year-old Tanisha Pritchard.

The City of North Battleford released a photo of the house on fire and Tanisha Pritchard’s mother, Tara Pritchard, had told SaskToday that it appeared a person's hand was waving for help out of a window of the house engulfed in flames and she believed it was her daughter's arm.

“Battlefords RCMP has reviewed a higher resolution version of the photo in question, and has consulted with scene investigators,” said Battlefords RCMP. “The object in the window is not an arm.

“As investigation has now determined this is a non-suspicious fire and sudden death, no further updates or information can be provided,” added the RCMP.

The photo had gone viral on social media, with North Battleford and area residents expressing disbelief and outrage that no one helped what appears to be a person waving for help from the window of the burning house.

The house in North Battleford where Tanisha Pritchard lost her life is Mavis Takakenew’s home, and the same house where the assault and torture of Tiki Laverdiere started, before she was taken to two other houses and eventually murdered.