Coast Mountain News Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Vol. 30 | No. 20 Thursday, October 9, 2014
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Viviane Garcia stands in her home office with her mastiff, Daisy, the site of a violent armed robbery. Garcia's calm manner and courage during the situation were remarkable.
Caitlin Thompson photo
Local woman recounts terrifying ordeal during armed robbery BY CAITLIN THOMPSON A brazen armed robbery that ended in a police chase through town on Saturday, September 27 has resulted in charges against a local resident. Viviane Garcia was making supper in her home when she suddenly found herself staring into the muzzle of a sawed-off shotgun and said she thought she was going to die. “I was scared to die that day, the money is nothing,” she said. “I don't care about material things, I care about my family, my life.” Garcia said her nightmare ordeal began the prior Friday evening, when she noticed a beige mini-van parked near the cemetery on Sawmill Road, where she lives and manages the Bella Coola Mini-Storage with her hus-
band, Roger Bigras. She said the vehicle belonged to Nathan Duperron and didn't think much of it at the time. She also wasn't concerned the following day when the 41-year-old Duperron spent the majority of his time in his storage unit at the facility. “On Saturday, he parked his car in front of his storage unit all day,” Garcia said. “Later in the day I was making my supper when I heard a huge voice. I didn't understand at first, I thought someone was playing.” Garcia alleges that when she looked down the hall she found herself staring into the barrel of Duperron's sawedoff shotgun, who was now standing in her office. He screamed at her to come down the hall, threatening to kill her mastiff, Daisy, if the dog didn't stop
barking. Meanwhile Garcia's husband, witnessing what was happening, slipped out the front door to get help from the neighbour. Once Duperron noticed that Garcia's husband had left Viviane said Duperron became enraged. “That was when he got so, so angry,” Garcia told Coast Mountain News. “He started screaming, saying he was going to count to five and if Roger didn't come back he was going to kill me.” Garcia said Duperron starting counting and, sensing an opportunity, she began talking with him, explaining that her husband was ill and that he didn't need him anyways. “I told him about my husband's injury and that he's sick, don't worry about him, I'm here,” Garcia said. “I started asking him what he wanted, why he was doing
this, and then he forgot about counting.” Duperron started demanding money, threatening repeatedly to kill her, all the while holding the shotgun just inches from her chest. Garcia gave him all she had, about $300, but he would not give up, yelling profanities at her and demanding that she give him more money. Duperron locked himself and Viviane in the office and rifled through personal wallets, accusing her of lying. “He kept saying, 'I want money, I'm telling you I want money,'” Garcia said. She tried to placate him, telling him she had given him everything she had. Convinced he was under the influence of drugs, Garcia said she tried to remain calm. She reminded him of the time she had helped him at the
storage unit in the past and kept trying to soothe the situation. “I wasn't sure how it was going to end, he was acting crazy,” she said. “He kept saying 'shut up or I'm gonna kill you.'” Garcia said it was then that Duperron decided he was going to leave in her vehicle and he demanded she go with him. “He walked backwards the whole time with the gun pointing at me. He grabbed his laptop and his gun case and a machete,” said Garcia. “He had the gun against me the whole time. It was the longest time I ever experienced in my whole life. Terrifying.” Once outside, Garica said she managed to convince him that he'd be better off without her. SEE ARMED ON PAGE 3