On May 18, Jeremy Skibicki was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Crane River First Nation woman Rebecca Contois. Some of his remains were discovered near a flat in North Kildonan in May.
Investigators then directed their search to the Brady Road landfill, located just south of the Winnipeg perimeter. A month later, other remains of Rebecca Contois were discovered there.
In May, the police already indicated that there may be other victims linked to the investigation.
Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth confirmed the sad prediction at a press conference on Thursday.
Police have filed three new counts of first-degree murder against Jeremy Skibicki, who is being held at Milner Ridge Correctional Center.
Inspector Shawn Pike and Chief Danny Smyth of the Winnipeg Police Service at the press conference.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jeff Stapleton
He is charged with the murder of Morgan Beatrice Harris, a 39-year-old woman from Long Plain First Nation, around May 1. He is also charged with the murder of Marcedes Myran, 26, also from Long Plain, around May 4.
A fourth person, who has yet to be identified, is Jeremy Skibicki’s first victim, police say. Authorities believe she is an average-sized Aboriginal woman in her mid-20s and are asking for the public’s help in identifying her.
Police released an image of a reversible jacket, one side of which was black and the other had horizontal white and black stripes. She asks anyone who recognizes this jacket to contact her.
The coat possibly belonging to the alleged victim of Mr. Skibicki, who has not been identified.
Photo: Winnipeg Police Service
Of the tragic acts
It’s always disturbing when there are serial murders, it’s not the first time we know about it […] It’s concerning because it involves indigenous women, we are very sensitive to missing and murdered indigenous women
says Danny Smyth.
He called these murders of tragic and senseless acts
.
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, present at the press conference, expressed outrage at the crimes. Anger and sadness, that’s what I feel right now
he says.
” This is a painful day for Winnipeg and we must never become numb to the horror of this news. »
These women were part of our community
he said, adding that Winnipeg must do more to protect Indigenous women. There are too many homeless people, too much addiction, too much poverty and too much violent crime
continues the mayor.
Mr. Gillingham notes that these three murders bring the total to 50 in 2022, in the Manitoba capital, a record figure. As a city, we cannot accept this.
He undertakes to carry out real effort
to reduce violence.
Three victims and no bodies
The bodies of the three victims of the murders announced Thursday have not been found, according to Major Crimes Unit Detective Shawn Pike. He declined to explain how police were able to file first-degree murder charges without a body being found, as the investigation is still ongoing.
He notes, however, that the charges were filed after consultation with Crown prosecutors.
For the moment, the police do not anticipate a search for the missing bodies. However, it will work to identify the fourth victim, assures Mr. Pike. Somewhere there is a family, a community that has lost a loved one
he said.
No information suggests that there would be other victims, adds the police officer.
Inspector Pike would not comment on the defendant’s possible motives. The 35-year-old expressed his support for openly racist groups on social media.
Tags: Rebecca Contois alleged killer charged murders Winnipeg
