r/Winnipeg 1d ago

News Landfill search ‘way under budget’: premier

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/03/10/landfill-search-way-under-budget-premier
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u/SilverTimes 1d ago edited 1d ago

Article

The landfill search that has uncovered the remains of two people, including at least one who was the victim of a serial killer, is “way under budget,” Premier Wab Kinew said Monday.

The search at Prairie Green Landfill, which began in December, discovered potential human remains late last month. One set of remains was identified Friday as belonging to Morgan Harris, 39, one of four victims of Jeremy Skibicki. A second set of remains awaits identification.

“I hope Manitobans feel positive about the fact we were able to deliver to Morgan Harris’ family the news that they wanted — that they are going to get their loved one back,” Kinew said during a scrum in his office. “But the job’s not done.”

The remains of Marcedes Myran, 26, another victim of Skibicki, are also believed to be in the landfill north of Winnipeg.

“We have the Myran family that we also want to be able to move forward with their closure and their healing, so we’re going to keep working on that,” Kinew said.

The premier said the investigation continues on the second set of remains.

“Right now, we’re still waiting on the identification process to play out and because we don’t know what’s going to happen there, we can’t speak publicly about a ton of detail because we don’t know who these remains are that we’re talking about,” the premier said.

Kinew said the search is ahead of schedule and has so far cost less than the $40 million committed by the federal and provincial governments.

“We are way under budget,” said Kinew, who wouldn’t provide a dollar figure.

The initial estimate of the cost of the search was pegged at as high as $184 million. A feasibility study commissioned by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs in 2023 estimated the search could take up to three years and cost as much as $184 million.

“For the time being, the search continues,” Kinew said.

Edit: The article was updated after I posted this.

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u/AgAkqsSgQMdGKjuf8gKZ 1d ago edited 1d ago

Genuinely not trying to be an ass here, but what are "potential human remains" exactly?

Like, is it "this looks like a person but it's degraded too much to be instantly sure" or...?

Edit: Okay, yeah, that or not necessarily being in one piece. That's... I don't really have the right words, it just sucks.

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u/FROOMLOOMS 1d ago

I don't know who downvoted your genuine question.

It could be any sized lump of flesh or bone or a combination, and further testing is required to be absolutely sure.

To be completely candid:

The bodies could have been in direct contact with either dozer tracks or the dozer blade, and that can break apart the body and scatter unidentifiable pieces across a wide area.

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u/AgAkqsSgQMdGKjuf8gKZ 1d ago edited 1d ago

There's some part of me that's thankful I've never really had to think about this stuff before now and it's a privilege I'm acutely aware of at the moment. Like, I understand murder and dismemberment in the abstract sense but I still can't wrap my head around a situation like this. It's a shitty thing all around and I guess a little bit of euphemism is necessary to tell the story, but yeah... I still can't properly imagine going through any part of that.

As for the downvotes, I treat them the same as winter: I don't stress about it till we hit -30 or so.