Fatal Encounter

Nineteen years of age, a beautiful and confident and talented young woman. Her professional career as a folk singer ahead of her. And now, nothing. She came, she shone, she is no more. The vicissitudes of life's arcane occurrences brought her, through her love of the outdoors, into a dangerous situation she was unable to extract herself from.



Her obvious enthusiasm for life, her dogged determination to enter the entertainment world, while remaining firmly grounded in life's opportunities and values mark her as an especial young person. Who might ever imagine a casual love of nature would lead to an encounter with wild animals known for their elusiveness, not for ferocious attacks on adult humans.

Visiting Cape Breton, taking time off from her professional appearance to hike along the Skyline Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, how might she ever suspect this would be the last decision she would ever happily make in her short life? It has been suggested that these were two starving young coyotes, with little hunting experience.

Their attack on the young woman, who died of the wounds she received, was unusual. How utterly, profoundly sad. Rest in peace, Taylor Mitchell.