WINNIPEG — The father of a First Nations woman who died at the hands of a Winnipeg serial killer told a special court hearing his family was left to "grieve in pieces" for three years before she was identified.
The family and community of Ashlee Shingoose presented victim impact statements Friday during the hearing in Manitoba's Court of King's Bench.
It came one year after Jeremy Skibicki was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life for killing Shingoose and three other First Nations women.
Albert Shingoose described travelling from his home community of St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation in northeastern Manitoba on a mission to comb Winnipeg streets looking for his missing daughter in 2022.
"Sometimes my legs and feet could not take even one more step," he wrote in the statement read in court by St. Teresa Point Chief Raymond Flett. Shingoose stood by holding an eagle feather.
Later that year, police announced the arrest of Skibicki in the deaths of Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran and a fourth unidentified woman.
As days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, Shingoose said he came to the horrific conclusion that his kind, loving daughter was likely the unknown victim.
"We knew something terrible had happened. We felt it in our hearts," he said. "It felt like no one heard us. No one acted.
"For the longest time, Ashley remained unidentified, while we were out here screaming into silence."
Indigenous grassroots community members gave the unidentified victim the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, and it was used to refer to her during the trial.
Police announced this year that interviews with Skibicki after the trial, along with DNA evidence, led them to identify Buffalo Woman as Ashlee Shingoose.
The hearing learned Friday that Skibicki reached out to investigators in December, saying he wanted to help them identify Buffalo Woman. Police travelled to an Edmonton prison and showed him photos of Shingoose.
Skibicki identified her as his first victim.
He met the 30-year-old three times, brought her back to his apartment and killed her, said Crown prosecutor Renee Lagimodiere.
Skibicki also told police Shingoose had been wearing black leggings and a Baby Phat branded jacket. Leggings collected during the investigation and a cigarette butt in Skibicki's home had DNA from Skibicki and the unknown victim.
As a gesture, police gave the jacket to the Shingoose family before the court hearing. The gesture meant so much, said her mother, Theresa Shingoose.
"It was a very heavy day for me."
One of the last voice messages Ashlee Shingoose sent to her mother was played at the hearing. She spoke of trying to better her life and wanting to be the best parent for her children.
One of her children died before Shingoose was identified as the victim, said Albert Shingoose, adding the girl struggled with her mother's disappearance.
Flett told court the killing has deeply affected the community, and beyond.
"This tragedy has left our women and girls living in fear. (It's) opened old wounds from the many losses our people have endured. The harm is not only to one family, not only to one nation, but to all other nations."
Premier Wab Kinew announced this week a preliminary search was underway at the Brady Road landfill in Winnipeg, where police believe the remains of Shingoose were taken.
Skibicki admitted to the killings but unsuccessfully argued he was not criminally responsible due to a mental illness.
Court heard he targeted his victims at homeless shelters, disposing of their bodies in garbage bins.
His crimes came to light after the remains of Contois were discovered in a garbage bin in May 2022. More of her remains were later found at the landfill.
Remains of Harris and Myran were discovered this year at the Prairie Green landfill north of Winnipeg.
During Skibicki's trial, a ceremonial buffalo headdress sat at the Crown's table to symbolize that the unknown victims had not been forgotten. It was on display again in court Friday.
The Crown argued for the hearing to give the Shingoose family the same opportunity to address the court that other victims' families had.
"It is a step that is intended to give Ashlee Shingoose and her family the same protections the criminal justice system promises other Canadians. It is a step that is intended to give Ashlee Shingoose and her family the respect, humanity and dignity they deserve," said Lagimodiere.
Chief Justice Glenn Joyal, who oversaw Skibicki's trial, said the hearing is unique but a necessary and tangible step toward "judicial reconciliation."
"The lack of precedent for this hearing should not give us cause to invalidate it."
He said it's the court's responsibility to seek out and adopt new approaches in its relationship with Indigenous Peoples.
He thanked the family for their bravery, honesty and sharing their "private pain in the most public of ways."
Skibicki was not at the hearing. Because it wasn't a continuation of the trial or sentencing, Joyal said the court had no jurisdiction to order the killer to attend.
Skibicki's lawyer said his client believed attending would bring further harm to the Shingoose family.
Albert Shingoose said he wanted to look at Skibicki and address him in person.
"I would say to him, 'I want an eye for an eye."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
