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
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.