A timeline of what we know about 4 slain Winnipeg women and serial killer Jeremy Skibicki
Skibicki admits to killing all 4 women, but lawyers argue he is not criminally responsible
WARNING: This story contains distressing details.
The news was shocking: four women, all killed in Winnipeg by the same man in a span of two months.
Rebecca Contois, 24, remembered at a vigil as someone who "always had a heart for everything."
Morgan Harris, 39, whose daughter said the mother of five and grandmother was "happy-go-lucky" and "silly."
Marcedes Myran, 26, whose grandmother remembers her as happy, smiley and trusting.
And a fourth woman who, until she's identified, has been given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
The three women whose identities are known were all First Nations, and police have said they believe the unidentified woman was also Indigenous. Their deaths have sparked calls for action to do more to protect Indigenous women and girls.
Jeremy Skibicki, 37, is charged with first-degree murder in all four deaths. He has pleaded not guilty on all counts.
His lawyers say he admits to killing the women but they will argue he was not criminally responsible for the deaths due to mental disorder, when his judge-only trial begins in Winnipeg on May 8. It's expected to continue until June 6.
According to court documents and hearings, Skibicki has threatened to kill two previous partners in recent years. He was convicted of assaulting one of those women and charged with assault in connection with the other.
The charges in the latter case were stayed, a few months before Skibicki is believed to have killed the first of the four victims.
Posts on a Facebook page linked to Skibicki, dated before his arrest in 2022, were rife with violent sentiments, as well as antisemitic, misogynistic and white supremacist material.
Here's a timeline of what else we know so far about the four women Winnipeg police say were the victims of a serial killer, the man accused of killing them and the push for the search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two of the women.
May 6, 2024
Jeremy Skibicki's lawyers say he admits to killing all four women but argue he's not criminally responsible for the killings due to mental illness, Crown attorney Christian Vanderhooft says in a Winnipeg court.
Prosecutors also announce that the trial, scheduled to begin May 8, will be heard by a judge only, since the Crown says it no longer has to prove Skibicki caused the women's deaths.
Defence attorneys had previously argued the trial should be heard by judge alone, rather than a jury, but a judge denied that motion.
May 3, 2024
A judge rules Skibicki's trial will be heard by a jury, following a second attempt by his lawyers to have the case heard by a judge alone.
The defence raised concerns about the possible effects of media coverage on the jury.
April 25, 2024
A jury of 12 people, plus two alternates, is selected for Skibicki's upcoming trial.
April 16, 2024
Manitoba Court of King's Bench Chief Justice Glenn Joyal dismisses an attempt by Skibicki's lawyers to quash the first-degree murder charges in the death of the woman known as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman. The defence had argued the fact that there is no victim identified or body found made the charge what's known as a "nullity," meaning it has no legal force.
March 22, 2024
The federal and provincial governments each commit $20 million toward the search of the Prairie Green landfill, north of Winnipeg, for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran.
Another $500,000 from the province will go toward supporting the victims' families during Skibicki's trial, the province announces. The federal government also committed an additional $200,000 for the mental well-being of the families.
Winnipeg police previously said they believe the remains of Harris and Myran are at the landfill, which is north of Winnipeg.
March 8, 2024
Protesters rally in downtown Winnipeg, calling on Premier Wab Kinew to deliver on his promise to search the landfill for the two women's remains.
Kinew promised during the 2023 election campaign he'd support a search, and reiterated this commitment following his party's election win on Oct. 3.
Jan. 26, 2024
A new report on the feasibility of searching Prairie Green landfill says the search could cost $90 million, about half of the $184 million projected in a feasibility report completed the previous year.
Jan. 24, 2024
A judge dismisses a first request from Skibicki's lawyers to have his trial heard by a judge alone.
Nov. 6, 2023
Skibicki pleads not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder on the first day of pretrial motions in his case.
His lawyers argue his case should be heard by a judge only, instead of the jury trial that was initially scheduled.
The case is automatically slated to be heard before a jury because it involves first-degree murder charges. A trial by judge alone would require the consent of Crown prosecutors.
Oct. 4, 2023
The federal government commits $740,000 to further review a search of the Prairie Green landfill, one day after Kinew was elected premier.
Sept. 23, 2023
A full-page Progressive Conservative election ad says then premier Heather Stefanson's government would "stand firm" in its refusal to search the Prairie Green landfill if re-elected. It runs in the Winnipeg Free Press, less than two weeks before the 2023 Manitoba election.
The party also rolled out radio and billboard ads around this time, which Stefanson later apologized for following her election defeat. The ads were condemned during her campaign by families of Harris and Myran.
Aug. 3, 2023
A round dance and rally is held at Winnipeg's Portage and Main intersection to call for a search of the Prairie Green landfill.
Earlier in the day, families of Harris and Myran met with federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
His spokesperson told CBC News in a statement that Canada is committed to acting on the landfill search, but needs support from the provincial government.
July 18, 2023
City crews tear down a blockade at Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill, four days after a judge granted an injunction ordering protesters to clear the road.
Protesters blocked the road to the city-run landfill after then premier Heather Stefanson said her government would not support a search of Prairie Green.
A new protest camp was then set up near the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg.
July 6, 2023
Protesters blocked the entrance road to the Brady Road landfill, demanding the government search the Prairie Green landfill.
July 5, 2023
Manitoba's Progressive Conservative government says it will not support a search of the Prairie Green landfill, citing concerns over searchers' health and safety.
May 12, 2023
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says a study examining whether a successful search of the Prairie Green landfill is possible determined the effort could take up to three years and cost as much as $184 million.
Winnipeg police previously said they believe the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran are at the landfill north of Winnipeg.
Feb. 8, 2023
The federal government says it will provide $500,000 to fund a study on whether remains could be recovered through a search of the Prairie Green landfill. The update comes after Ottawa said in December that it would cover the cost of that feasibility study.
Jan. 24, 2023
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says it's been told no garbage has been dumped in the targeted section of the facility since June.
Jan. 17, 2023
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says it expects to complete a feasibility study on whether it's possible to recover the two women's remains by March 31.
The First Nations advocacy group is part of a landfill search committee that says while it is also pursuing a request to search Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill, it's currently focusing on Prairie Green.
Jan. 6, 2023
Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill reopens to the public after protesters calling for a search of the dump blocked access for weeks. Demonstrators wanted the dump searched for the remains of missing people, months after the partial remains of Rebecca Contois were discovered there in June.
The same day, a spokesperson for the city says the cell where Contois's remains were found hasn't been in use since.
Dec. 16, 2022
Manitoba's premier pledges her support for a feasibility study for a search of the Prairie Green landfill.
Premier Heather Stefanson also clarified that only one cell in the privately run landfill has had its operations paused indefinitely as next steps are determined, after previously announcing operations were being paused at the entire landfill.
Dec. 15, 2022
The federal government confirms it will cover the cost of a study about whether remains could be recovered through a search of the Prairie Green landfill.
Dec. 9, 2022
The chair of Winnipeg's police board says officials are trying to find a way to search for the remains of Harris and Myran in the Prairie Green landfill.
Dec. 8, 2022
Premier Stefanson announces operations have been paused at the Prairie Green landfill.
Dec. 6, 2022
Police say they believe Harris's and Myran's remains are at the Prairie Green landfill, but say it wouldn't be feasible to search for them.
Earlier the same day, Harris's daughters Cambria and Kera call on police to do whatever it takes to find the remains of their mother and the other slain women.
Dec. 4, 2022
A previously unnamed woman who police say was killed by Skibicki is given a name by the community: Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
Police previously said she's believed to be Indigenous and in her 20s, but won't say how they determined that.
Dec. 1, 2022
Police announce Skibicki has been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, Myran and the woman who will later be given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
He was already in custody, having been charged with one other count of first-degree murder in Contois's death months earlier.
Sept. 26, 2022
Myran's family reports her missing, months after she was last seen. This is also around the time when police issue a missing person release about her through the Bear Clan Patrol to solicit information from the public.
Myran's grandmother, Donna Bartlett, said Myran's mother was initially afraid to go to the police because she was scared to learn that something had happened to her.
June 21, 2022
Police announce human remains found at the city-run Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg a week earlier have been identified as those of Rebecca Contois.
June 20, 2022
Homicide investigators determine Harris's and Myran's remains were likely at the Prairie Green landfill, but do not disclose this publicly until December.
Sometime around this date, the police forensics team is also notified.
By then, about 10,000 loads of debris had been dumped on the load they were interested in, police later say.
June 15, 2022
Police announce they've found partial human remains at the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg during a two-week search connected with the killing of Contois.
June 2, 2022
Police begin searching Winnipeg's Brady Road landfill for Contois's remains.
June 2022
Around this time, garbage stops getting dumped in the Prairie Green landfill cell where Harris's and Myran's remains are believed to be.
That fact isn't disclosed publicly until months later, in January 2023, when it's shared by the group overseeing efforts to determine whether it's feasible to search the landfill for the women's remains.
May 19, 2022
Police announce they've charged Skibicki with first-degree murder and detain him in custody.
They also identify Contois as the person whose partial remains were discovered near a North Kildonan apartment building earlier that week.
Police say they've executed a search warrant on Skibicki's residence and announce a potential scene has been identified at the Brady Road landfill.
Because of the circumstances, police say investigators have not ruled out the possibility of more victims.
May 18, 2022
Police arrest Skibicki in connection with the death of the woman they will later identify as Contois.
May 16, 2022
Police search through garbage bins behind a North Kildonan apartment.
That search was prompted after partial remains, later confirmed to belong to Contois, were found.
This is also the day police say they believe the remains of Harris and Myran were transported to the Prairie Green landfill, and the day police say Harris was reported missing.
May 14 or 15, 2022
Police believe Skibicki killed Contois on or around one of these dates, court documents show.
May 4, 2022
Police believe Skibicki killed Myran on or around this date, court documents show.
May 1, 2022
Police believe Skibicki killed Harris on or around this date, court documents show.
This was also the date Harris was last seen, near the area of Main Street and Henry Avenue in Winnipeg, police say later in May, when they announce she is missing.
March 15, 2022
Police believe Skibicki killed the woman the community has named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, on or around this date, court documents say.
This is also the last time Myran had contact with her family, her grandmother says, and the day police say she was listed as last being seen.
She was last seen in Winnipeg's North End, her family says.
Dec. 23, 2021
The Crown stays assault charges against Skibicki stemming from an alleged attack on his estranged wife almost a year earlier.
A spokesperson for the province later says those charges were re-evaluated after a judge "made findings about the reliability" of the woman's testimony in a separate trial involving Skibicki and his estranged wife around the same time.
Dec. 14, 2021
A judge acquits Skibicki in a trial connected with an alleged violation of an order that barred him from contacting his estranged wife. The judge said he found her testimony unreliable due to her memory issues.
The woman's mother says her daughter was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome after an earlier alleged attack involving Skibicki, and that had an effect on her memory.
October 2021
A friend of Skibicki — who spent time with the accused at an apartment Skibicki lived in from this time until his arrest in May 2022 — said Skibicki went to Winnipeg shelters for meals.
The friend said Skibicki took the bus daily to N'Dinawemak for breakfast and lunch, and often went to Siloam Mission for dinner.
During Skibicki's time in the apartment, the friend said he saw about half a dozen women he believes were Indigenous come and go, though Skibicki told him he'd had at least 30 women stay with him for varying periods of time.
The women often carried bags with what appeared to be clothing and other belongings, he said. He also often saw drug paraphernalia in Skibicki's apartment after the women left.
"Now that I look back, it's predatory behaviour," he said. "You know, he's looking for the absolute most vulnerable."
January 2021
Skibicki's estranged wife alleges her husband assaulted her.
The woman's mother says it involved an incident in which her daughter was chased down an apartment hallway with a knife. The incident left the woman with injuries from being punched in the head and hit over the head with a cane, according to her mother.
Skibicki is later charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm, but those charges end up being stayed.
Sept. 4, 2019
A year after they got married, Skibicki's estranged wife is granted a protection order against him for three years. She alleges in both an application for the order and a hearing that she suffered a litany of abuse at his hands and that he threatened to kill her.
Sept. 4, 2018
Skibicki marries the woman who is his now-estranged wife. She later says in a protection order hearing that she was "under the influence" on their wedding day and went to detox for meth four days later.
Dec. 21, 2015
A different woman, who is then Skibicki's common-law partner, files for a protection order against him, saying in her application she feared "he won't stop until I'm dead."
Her request is dismissed. It's not clear why, but the conditions of Skibicki's probation from a conviction for an assault against her months before required that he stay away from his partner and not make contact for two years.
Aug. 26, 2015
Skibicki is convicted of assaulting his common-law partner. After spending about two months behind bars, he's sentenced to two years of probation.
June 15, 2015
Skibicki assaults his common-law partner. According to a statement of facts later agreed to by Crown and defence attorneys, Skibicki grabbed his pregnant partner's hair and punched her in the face several times, then tried to strangle her. He also told her he would kill her if she called police.
Support is available for anyone affected by details of this case. If you require support, you can contact Ka Ni Kanichihk's Medicine Bear Counselling, Support and Elder Services at 204-594-6500, ext. 102 or 104 (within Winnipeg), or 1-888-953-5264 (outside Winnipeg).
Support is also available via Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Liaison unit at 1-800-442-0488 or 204-677-1648.
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