In a packed Canadian courtroom, tearful cheers erupted as a judge declared a serial killer guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of four indigenous women. The emotional atmosphere was palpable, but for Jeremy Contois, the brother of one of the victims, his reaction remained reserved. Mr. Contois expressed a sense of relief, noting that closure can only come with the formal sentencing of the killer, Jeremy Skibicki.

During the trial at Manitoba Court of King's Bench, Chief Justice Glenn Joyal dismissed the defense's argument that Skibicki was not criminally responsible for the murders due to suffering from schizophrenia at the time. Prosecutors countered that the killings were deliberate, racially motivated, and planned. The victims, including Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and an unidentified woman referred to as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe (meaning Buffalo Woman), fell victim to these horrific crimes in 2022.

Donning a gray T-shirt and pants, Skibicki showed no reaction as Judge Joyal delivered the oral verdict. However, a family member of Ms. Contois held up a large photo of her toward Skibicki as he exited the courtroom. The murders and subsequent trial sent shockwaves through Canada's indigenous community, shining a spotlight on the ongoing violence against indigenous women.

Judge Joyal emphasized that Skibicki failed to prove he was not criminally responsible for the murders, dismissing the testimony of a British psychiatrist who claimed that delusions motivated Skibicki's actions. The judge stated that the "mercilessly graphic" details of the case remained largely uncontested, as the accused had admitted to the murders both in police interviews and in court prior to the trial. Skibicki had entered a plea of not guilty due to a mental disorder.

The courtroom, filled with families and friends of the victims, totaling 100 people, witnessed the verdict. Judge Joyal acknowledged the profound impact this case had on the entire Manitoba community, both indigenous and non-indigenous alike. With Skibicki now facing life behind bars, attention has shifted to finding the remains of two victims, Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, believed to be in a Winnipeg landfill. Following pressure from their families, a formal search has been scheduled for this autumn.

According to court documents, Skibicki committed the murders between March and May of 2022, with Rebecca Contois believed to be the final victim. He reportedly met at least two of his victims at local homeless shelters in the city of Winnipeg, known for its population of 820,000 people in the prairie province.

The court heard that Skibicki targeted and exploited vulnerable women, subjecting them to assault, strangulation, drowning, and sexual acts before dismembering their bodies and disposing of them in garbage bins. Shockingly, the killings went undetected for months until a man searching for scrap metal outside Skibicki's apartment found partial human remains in May 2022 and promptly alerted the police. These remains were identified as belonging to Rebecca Contois. More of her remains were discovered the following month at a city-run landfill.

As the trial ends, the verdict provides some solace to the families of the victims. However, the devastating impact of these senseless murders and the subsequent search for all victims' remains serve as a haunting reminder of the violence and injustice faced by indigenous women within Canadian society.