Remains of woman found in Winnipeg, victim of 'horrifically grisly' homicide: police
Community members are mourning the death of a woman who was the victim of what police describe as a ‘horrifically grisly’ homicide.
Police are investigating the death and fear there could be more victims.
Dozens gathered for a candlelight vigil Thursday evening outside an apartment building on Edison Avenue in North Kildonan, an area where police said partial human remains were discovered Monday morning.
The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Rebecca Contois. Those close to the family told CTV News that Contois was a mother.
Rebecca Contois is pictured in an undated image. ( Source:Facebook/Darryl Contois)
"No more stolen sisters. We want to stop this. There are too many out there that are missing," said Darryl Contois, a community advocate who organized the vigil.
Const. Rob Carver described the area as a “horrifically grisly scene,” and said somebody in the area discovered Contois.
Police believe she was killed recently somewhere in the area where she was found. Police could be seen examining a nearby garbage bin Thursday. Officers said the circumstances of the discovery are ultimately what led investigators to start searching the Brady Road Landfill.
“We have officers on scene at Brady and we’ve been trying to secure a scene there, a potential scene there and any evidence we might locate there," Carver told reporters. "That is going to be a long ongoing operation.”
Investigators arrested 35-year-old Jeremy Anthony Michael Skibicki Wednesday. He has been charged with first-degree murder and has been detained in custody. The charge has not been proven in court.
Carver said police have executed a search warrant at Skibicki’s residence, which is located in the area. He said police have identified another potential scene at the Brady Road landfill, and officers are investigating in the area.
He added due to the circumstances surrounding the homicide, “Police have not ruled out the possibility of additional victims.”
“There are things that are leading investigators to look at that as a potential possibility for sure,” Carver said, adding he was unable to give more details.
Area resident Deborah Hastings said police came knocking on her door the morning Contois’ partial remains were found as officers searched for clues. She said her focus right now is on the family’s well-being.
“That’s so sad. Such a young life taken. She doesn’t even have a chance now," Hastings said. "I pray for the family. I do pray for the family.”
Dozens gathered for a candlelight vigil Thursday evening outside an apartment building on Edison Avenue in North Kildonan, an area where police said partial human remains were discovered Monday morning. (Source: Danton Unger/ CTV News Winnipeg)
During the vigil Thursday, the group prayed and sang as they mourned Contois' death, and demanded action so no other women would become victims.
"Anytime we lose any of our Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender-diverse people, it is very tragic to the community and devastating to the family," Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, the chair of the national family and survivor circle, who was at the vigil.
"It is really powerful when the community gathers and supports the family during such a difficult time."
Contois’ family has asked for privacy.
-with files from CTV's Danton Unger
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.