WINNIPEG — In what may be one of the last documented moments in Marcedes Myran's life, a video shows her walking in a Winnipeg parking lot next to her killer.
Hours later, police believe she was slain.
When officers collected the May 4, 2022, surveillance video during their investigation of Jeremy Skibicki, they didn't know Myran's name — only that she had been killed and her remains put in a garbage bin.
Sgt. Paul Barber testified Monday that officers were tasked with going over more than 2,000 hours of video evidence while trying to track the whereabouts of Skibicki and his four victims.
"We went back to try and seize as much video surveillance as possible," said Barber.
Skibicki, 37, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder for the slayings of Myran, Morgan Harris, Rebecca Contois and an unidentified women Indigenous leaders have named Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
His lawyers have said he killed the four Indigenous women but argue he's not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
The Crown has said the killings were racially motivated and Skibicki preyed on the vulnerable women at homeless shelters.
Court has been told he assaulted the women, strangled or drowned them and disposed of their bodies in garbage bins. Two were dismembered.
The partial remains of Contois, 24, were first found in a garbage bin in Skibicki's neighbourhood on May 16, 2022. More of her remains were later found in a landfill.
Police have said the remains of Myran and Harris are likely in another landfill. They have not said where the remains of Buffalo Woman might be.
When police collected the video of Skibicki with Myran, Barber said officers were tasked with trying to identify the 26-year-old.
Myran can be seen wearing a black and red baseball cap with a logo of the online video game Fortnite. She has on Under Armour running shoes.
The hat and one of the runners were later found in Skibicki's apartment. The other runner was found in a garbage bin in his neighbourhood.
Myran's family reported her missing in September 2022.
Court has heard that police believe her remains were put in a bin near Skibicki's home about two days after she appears on the video.
Video of Harris was also played at the trial, with one of the last recordings from the early morning of May 1, 2022.
Court heard the 39-year-old had been staying at N'Dinaweak - Our Relatives' Place, a 24-hour warming space and resource centre. She was asked to leave for drinking alcohol.
The video shows Harris wearing a three-quarter length coat, which was later found in Skibicki's apartment.
Another video from days earlier shows Skibicki and Harris eating at a table in the shelter.
Crown prosecutor Renee Lagimodiere introduced additional video evidence showing three different instances when Skibicki is seen dumping contents in various garbage bins in his neighbourhood, including a bins where the partial remains of Contois were found.
The defence did not pose any questions to Barber.
Barber was tasked with interviewing witnesses, collecting video surveillance and canvassing areas of interest after Skibicki was charged in the killing of Contois.
He testified police are still investigating the identity of Buffalo Woman, who is believed to be an Indigenous woman in her mid-20s.
Police were unable to track down surveillance video relating to her death around March 15, 2022. Barber told court that by the time police became aware of her killing two months later, any video evidence would have likely been erased.
The only thing police have to go on is a reversible Baby Phat jacket that Skibicki said belonged to Buffalo Woman. Officers tracked down the jacket after Skibicki sold it on Facebook Marketplace.
"We continue to try and pull at any (tips) we receive from the public with regards to the identity of Buffalo Woman," said Barber.
The judge-alone trial is scheduled to continue until June 6.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2024.
Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press
