Who is the Buffalo Woman? Serial killer’s trial highlights police efforts to identify victim

To members of the Indigenous community, the police and the justice system, she is known as Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman, a name given to her by a group of Indigenous grandmothers.

“Our community has embraced it. We wanted it to have a name and belong to a community,” said Thelma Morrisseau, who participated in the naming ceremony.

“She needs to be honored and respected.”

Police have released some updates on their efforts to identify Buffalo Woman. However, details of their exhaustive efforts were revealed this month during Skibicki’s trial, which is scheduled to continue in June.

Skibicki, 37, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the killings of Buffalo Woman and three others – Morgan Harris, 39; Marcedes Myran, 26; and Rébecca Contois, 24 years old.

His lawyers said he killed the four Indigenous women but should not be found criminally responsible because of mental illness.

Crown prosecutors say the killings were racially motivated and that Skibicki preyed on vulnerable women in homeless shelters.

The court heard he assaulted the women, strangling or drowning them and dumping their bodies in rubbish bins. Myran and Contois were dismembered.

“(Skibicki) kidnapped Buffalo Woman because he thought she was taking some of his things,” prosecutor Renée Lagimodière said on the first day of the trial.

“(He) strangled her, filled her bathtub with water. He then drowned her.

When police announced in December 2022 that Skibicki had been charged with the murder of the unknown woman, they were unable to provide many details about him.

Police said they believed she was Aboriginal and was around 25 years old. They said she was probably killed around March 15 of that year.

The only other clue about the woman made public came from photos of a Baby Phat jacket. Police said she may have been wearing something similar to the black and white bomber jacket.

The trial learned more about the jacket. Police seized the unwashed coat in the summer of 2022, after Skibicki told investigators he sold it online through Facebook Marketplace. He said he threw out the rest of Buffalo Woman’s things.

The jacket was analyzed along with evidence from Skibicki’s suite to try to determine the identity of Buffalo Woman.

DNA found on a lapel of the jacket is the only evidence police have indicating his identity.

“We continue to try to take advantage of any (tips) we receive from the public regarding the identity of Buffalo Woman,” said Sgt. Dave Barber testified.

Conversations in the community have centered on speculation about whether the woman was from Manitoba or even Canada, added Morrisseau, who attended the trial.

“She has family somewhere…but no one has come forward.” They couldn’t connect her to anyone, and I find that very disturbing,” she said.

Police became aware of Buffalo Woman’s death while Skibicki was being questioned for Contois’ murder in May 2022. He surprisingly told officers he killed Contois and three others.

Partial remains of Contois were found in a trash can in the Skibicki neighborhood that month. Other remains of it were later found in a landfill.

The remains of Myran and Harris are believed to be in another landfill. DNA testing at Skibicki’s apartment identified them as other victims.

Skibicki initially gave police a name for Buffalo Woman, but it was the name of a person still alive.

He told police he met the victim outside the Salvation Army just north of downtown when there was still snow on the ground and the province had just lift restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restrictions were lifted on March 15, 2022.

In a police interrogation video played during the trial, Skibicki described the unknown woman as five feet four inches tall, with a dark complexion and short hair.

Skibicki told police he was coming down from a psilocybin or magic mushroom high and was angry at Buffalo Woman after she tried to rob him. He said he strangled her before drowning her.

The last thing she did was insult him, he told police. “I understand why.”

He then threw his remains in a trash can.

Sandra DeLaronde, a longtime advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, also sat in court during the trial. She said Buffalo Woman’s case speaks to the current breakdown of systems meant to protect vulnerable Indigenous women.

“There are a lot of lessons to be learned from Buffalo Woman, especially her ability to support people who are homeless or homeless,” she said.

DeLaronde said she appreciates the Crown’s efforts to seek justice for Buffalo Woman.

A ceremonial buffalo headdress sat on the Crown table during the trial – a symbol of the unidentified woman who has not been forgotten and the families still seeking answers in other cases.

“She represents justice for all these families … who never got justice,” DeLaronde said.

The federal government has a support line for those affected by the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls: 1-844-413-6649. The Hope for Wellness helpline, with support in Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut, is also available to all Indigenous peoples in Canada: 1-855-242-3310.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 26, 2024.

Brittany Hobson, The Canadian Press