From left to right: Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Rebecca Contois. Jeremy Skibicki, who denies the charges, is accused of killing these three women and an unidentified fourth woman, named Buffalo Woman by community leaders.
At Jeremy Skibicki’s trial, a shelter worker named Ronald Normand testified that Skibicki once told him he visited the shelter to "stalk his victims." Normand found this statement unusual because Skibicki seemed out of place at the shelter, as he always appeared well-groomed and wore clean clothes. Skibicki mentioned he didn't need the shelter as he had his own place, but he was there to find victims. Normand found this statement memorable, although he hears many strange things at the shelter from people with mental health issues.
Skibicki, 37, is on trial for the first-degree murder of three First Nations women: Rebecca Contois, 24, Morgan Harris, 39, and Marcedes Myran, 26. He is also accused of killing an unidentified woman named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, who is believed to have been in her 20s. The women were killed in Winnipeg between March and May 2022. Initially, Skibicki was arrested only for Contois's murder after her remains were found in garbage bins near his apartment in May 2022. He later confessed to the other three murders, which the police were unaware of until his confession. Prosecutors argue that the killings were intentional and racially motivated, targeting vulnerable Indigenous women at homeless shelters.
Skibicki’s defense team admits he committed the murders but argues he should be found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder. During the trial, Normand described Skibicki as somewhat aloof but never appeared under the influence or in a psychotic state. Skibicki frequently walked around the shelter, seemingly looking for someone.
The trial also heard from three neighbors who lived in the same apartment building as Skibicki. Richard Patkau, whose apartment shared a bathroom wall with Skibicki’s, testified that he heard Skibicki taking multiple showers early on the weekend before Contois’s remains were discovered, which he found unusual. Another neighbor, Allan MacKay, testified that he saw Skibicki taking out garbage bins around 2 a.m. on May 16, hours before Contois’s remains were found. He confronted Skibicki about the noise, and Skibicki replied he was disposing of garbage.
A third neighbor, Allen Cohan, testified that he saw Skibicki throwing out a large pile of clothes, including a pink backpack, into a garbage bin the evening before May 16. Cohan found the clothing and the backpack when he looked into the bin later.
The trial, overseen by Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, is expected to continue with testimony from Skibicki’s estranged wife. It is scheduled to last until June 6.
