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Investigators have identified a previously unknown victim of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki amid new vows from government and police to search for her remains at a Winnipeg landfill.
Officers said Wednesday the victim referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, was Ashlee Christine Shingoose, a 31-year-old woman from St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation.
Police and resource advocates travelled to Shingoose’s home community on Tuesday to tell her family and members of the community.
“Your daughter deserved to be named, and we offer our condolences,” Winnipeg Police Chief Gene Bowers said at a packed news conference Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Cam Mackid outlined investigators’ years-long search to identify the serial killer’s previously unknown victim, including the launch of two task forces.
The first began in January 2023. The four-month background investigation delved into all aspects of Skibicki’s past, with officers interviewing friends, family, and acquaintances dating back to his childhood.
Mackid said those efforts didn’t identify any additional victims or Buffalo Woman, as well as any links between Skibicki and any other existing missing persons cases.
A second task force was launched in October 2023 when police received evidence linking Shingoose to Skibicki’s suite. At that time, Shingoose was a long-time missing person.
Still, no further evidence was found.
However, investigators got new information in December during a post-conviction interview with Skibicki at a maximum-security facility where he is serving his life sentences.
“With that interview, he gave us a particular item of clothing – a pair of pants that hadn’t been sent to the lab that we were able to send to the lab,”Mackid said.
The results came back earlier this month, identifying a match with Shingoose.
Investigators believe her body was put in a garbage bin behind a commercial business in the 1300 block of Henderson Highway and taken to the Brady Landfill in March of 2022.
St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation Chief Raymond Flett said the community is heartbroken.
The discovery of Buffalo Woman’s identity is profound, he said, and signifies the ongoing struggle for justice, particularly for Indigenous women.
“Some are still out there missing,” he said.
“Ashlee Shingoose represented not only that an individual’s life was taken too soon, but also the countless Indigenous women who have gone missing or have been murdered without proper investigation, accountability, or closure for the families.”
‘We know what needs to be done’
Chief Flett read a message from Shingoose’s parents, who were unable to attend the news conference. They called for a search of the Brady Landfill to find the remains of their daughter.
“It’s been a long time waiting. I need to bring her home. I need that closure. It’s been too long,” the statement from Shingoose’s father, Albert said.
Premier Wab Kinew promised Wednesday to search the landfill for Shingoose’s remains, while Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham pledged the city’s support for the initiative, as well.
“I cannot promise you that we will bring her home, but I can promise you that we are going to try,” Kinew said.
“Together with the Province of Manitoba and with the federal government, with the families and with Indigenous leadership, we will determine next steps in the search operation,” Mayor Gillingham said, noting the landfill’s staff maintain detailed GPS records and bring operational expertise that will help fuel a safe and effective search.
This comes after the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran were positively identified after they were found during a search of the Prairie Green Landfill last month.
The search initially began in December and was spearheaded by Kinew’s government. It was a campaign promise by the NDP leader after the Winnipeg Police Service and the former Progressive Conservative government declined the search, citing safety and logistical concerns.
The decision sparked an onslaught of backlash and calls for former Premier Heather Stefanson and then-Police Chief Danny Smyth to resign.
Current Winnipeg Police Chief Gene Bowers said the initial decision not to search for Harris and Myran’s remains has had a significant impact on the families and community.
“We have had time for reflection, almost three years. While we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it. Today we know what needs to be done,” he said.
The service said it has reached out to the city and the province to start discussions on a humanitarian search for Shingoose’s remains.
Discussions are early in terms of what that search will look like, but the service is supportive of the initiative and is committed to being part of it.
“We just ask that you give us a chance. I am committed to reconciliation. I am committed to searching Brady for Ashlee’s remains. I’m standing here today in front of everyone in the community giving you my word that that will happen,” Chief Bowers said.
“As I said earlier, lessons learned.”
Skibicki was convicted last year of four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Shingoose, Harris, Myran, and Rebecca Contois in 2022.
Contois’ remains were previously discovered at Brady Landfill in June 2022.
There is a support line available for those impacted by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and LGBTQ2S+ people: 1-844-413-6649.
The Hope for Wellness Hotline for Indigenous people, with support in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, is also available 24/7 in Canada at 1-855-242-3310.
