Canadian accused of Indigenous murder charged over 3 deaths

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Police have alleged that a Canadian man previously charged with murdering an Indigenous woman also killed three other women — two confirmed to be Indigenous and one believed to be.

Jeremy Skibicki was charged on May 18 and kept in custody after the partial remains of 24-year-old Rebecca Contois were found in a garbage bin near an apartment building. Contois lived in Winnipeg but was a member of the O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation, also known as Crane River.

Police at the time said they were not ruling out more victims. On Thursday, they said Skibicki is now charged with first-degree murder over three other deaths in the same period in May. Police said Morgan Beatrice Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26, were killed in the first week of the month. Both lived in Winnipeg and were members of the Long Plain First Nation.

Police said a fourth woman, unidentified but also believed to be Indigenous, is thought to have been killed on or about March 15.They issued a photo of a jacket similar to the one she had been wearing.

"It's always unsettling whenever there is any kind of a serial killing," Winnipeg police chief Danny Smyth said.

"It does involve Indigenous women. We're very sensitive to the whole missing and murdered Indigenous women investigation and inquiry and the recommendations that came out of that."

Police gave few details about their investigation, but said they have no leads to any other potential victims.

"I don't know if they were specifically being targeted, but clearly the victims in this are all Indigenous women," Smyth said.

Authorities have not found the bodies of the other three victims, but say they have enough evidence to charge Skibicki with first-degree murder.

Investigation underway

Smyth declined to give further details because the investigation is still underway.

Scott Gillingham, mayor of Winnipeg, said much more work needs to be done to protect the lives of Indigenous women and girls.

"Right now, there are far too many people experiencing homelessness, addiction and poverty, and that puts (them) in vulnerable positions," he said.

Agencies Via Xinhua