The official search for Ashlee Shingoose’s remains has commenced at the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, according to Premier Wab Kinew. The initial truckload carrying landfill debris arrived at the search facility around 8:45 a.m. on Monday, where workers will meticulously sift through it in hopes of locating her remains.
Premier Kinew, speaking to reporters at an unrelated news conference on Monday, expressed his desire to bring Shingoose home soon. The search was inaugurated with a ceremony at the landfill, attended by Shingoose’s parents and sister. Shingoose, a member of St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation, was confirmed in March as a victim of a serial killer responsible for the deaths of Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Rebecca Contois.
Jeremy Skibicki, the convicted killer, is believed to have taken Shingoose’s life in March 2022. Authorities suspect that her body was disposed of in a garbage bin behind a business on Henderson Highway in North Kildonan before being transported to the Brady landfill. The ongoing search efforts have been supported by tests conducted by the province to pinpoint the search area and the removal of a layer of landfill debris known as overburden.
The process of combing through the landfill for Shingoose’s remains mirrors the successful searches for Harris and Myran at the Prairie Green landfill. Premier Kinew emphasized the commitment to continue the search operations beyond the initial six-month effort, ensuring adequate resources are available for an extended search if necessary.
Plans are also in place to search for Tanya Nepinak, who disappeared in 2011, at the same landfill site. The renewed search efforts have brought hope to families like Vernon Mann’s, who await closure after years of uncertainty. Mann’s children, who grew up without their mother, are supportive of the search and remain hopeful for a successful resolution. Grand Chief Kyra Wilson of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has pledged to continue the search until justice is served for all impacted families.
The renewed dedication to finding missing persons signifies a positive shift in government commitment, with a focus on bringing closure to families affected by these tragedies. The collaborative efforts and commitment to the search process offer hope for the successful recovery of loved ones lost to these heinous crimes.