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
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.