Murdered woman identified in set of remains found at Manitoba landfill

The Prairie Green Landfill in Stony Mountain, Man., is shown on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. The RCMP said Friday that remains found at a landfill north of Winnipeg have been identified as belonging to Morgan Harris, one of two slain First Nations women who search teams have been looking for at the site since December. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski

Authorities have identified one set of human remains found at Prairie Green Landfill.

In a media release Friday evening, the Province of Manitoba said the human remains found last week during a search at the landfill belong to Morgan Harris.

“We found my mother Morgan. It is a very bittersweet moment. I believe both our families will bring both of our loved ones home,” Cambria Harris, one of Morgan Harris’ daughters, wrote in a social media post.

The province said Harris’ remains were one of two sets of human remains found at the Prairie Green Landfill on February 26. In the statement, the province said authorities will give more information on the remains as facts are confirmed.

The search for the remains of Harris and Marcedes Myran began at Prairie Green Landfill (PGL) in December. Harris and Myron were two victims of convicted serial killer Jeremy Skibicki in 2022.

Skibicki was found guilty in 2024 of murdering Harris and Myran, as well as Rebecca Contois and a fourth woman given the name Buffalo Woman or Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe by Indigenous elders.

Contois’ partial remains were found in garbage bins near Skibicki’s apartment and at the Brady Road Landfill in May 2022.

Buffalo Woman has never been identified, nor have police determined where her remains could be located.

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) said its thoughts and prayers are with Harris’ family, loved ones, and nation.

“This search has always been about love—honouring Morgan, Marcedes, Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe (Buffalo Woman), Rebecca Contois, and all families still waiting for their loved ones to be brought home,” AMC said in a statement Friday night.

“Morgan Harris we honour you,” posted Premier Wab Kinew on an Instagram sharing the announcement.

“She’s coming home,” said Harris’ cousin Melissa Robinson in a social media post. “Just like we said it from the very beginning, we lead and fought with our hearts and now her spirit can rest.”

The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs also extended his condolences to the Harris family in a statement Saturday.

“This is both heartbreaking and horrific. This loss of precious life is tragic,” Gary Anandasangaree wrote. “While nothing can repair the harm that has been done, it is my sincere hope that Morgan Harris' family and community will find some of the closure they so deserve as they bring her home and honour her.”

Anandasangaree also said the federal government will continue helping the province search for the remains of Myran and Buffalo Woman.

The Harris and Myran families have faced fierce opposition in their fight to recover the women’s remains. In December 2022, now-retired Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth said a search of the landfill was not feasible.

During the 2023 provincial election, the Progressive Conservatives ran an ad campaign saying they would not search the landfill over safety concerns.

On Wednesday, interim party leader Wayne Ewasko apologized to the families, saying the party lost its way regarding empathy and bringing closure to the victim’s families.

“No family should have to search in this way, yet their loved ones stood firm in their truth and refused to be silenced. It is through their love and determination that Morgan has been found,” AMC said.

- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson