WINNIPEG – The parents of a murdered Manitoba woman are expressing hope that the search for their daughter's remains can begin shortly. Albert and Theresa Shingoose have been informed by authorities that their daughter, Ashlee Shingoose, has been identified, and her remains are likely located in the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg.

Ashlee Shingoose was previously unidentified and known only as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, meaning Buffalo Woman, and is one of four victims of serial killer Jeremy Skibicki, who received a life sentence in prison last year for his crimes.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and the Winnipeg police have confirmed that efforts to search the landfill will proceed. Albert Shingoose poignantly stated that a landfill is not a burial site and emphasized that people are not garbage. He believes that a successful search could ultimately bring closure for his family by bringing his daughter home.

“It was good to hear where my daughter is now. Now we all got to work hard to bring her home,” he declared during a news conference held on Thursday.

All four victims of Skibicki were First Nations women who disappeared in 2022. Testimonies from Skibicki’s trial revealed that he targeted these women at homeless shelters in Winnipeg, and subsequently disposed of their bodies in trash bins within his neighborhood.

The remains of Rebecca Contois were the first to be found. They were discovered in a garbage bin in Skibicki’s neighborhood in May 2022, and further remains were later located at the Brady landfill, which is owned by the city. Following those discoveries, the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran were recently revealed to have been found at the Prairie Green landfill, a privately-operated facility located north of Winnipeg.

This situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding the safety of vulnerable individuals in society, particularly Indigenous women, who are often disproportionately affected by violence. The Shingoose family’s plight underscores a tragic chapter in the narrative surrounding these victims, as communities continue to seek justice and recognition for those lost.

As the search operations for Ashlee Shingoose's remains are set to commence, it represents a critical step toward healing for her family and the broader community affected by the series of tragic events.