20°c A few clouds
7°c Sunny
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Difficult landfill search begins
Police look for victim's remains
Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg police officers sift through debris at the Brady Road Landfill looking for the remains of Tanya Nepinak (inset), who was slain in September 2011. (MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Related Items
As a cold, strong wind blew, a team of nine Winnipeg police officers combed through debris at the Brady Road Landfill in hopes of finding the remains of slaying victim Tanya Nepinak.
The search began Wednesday morning and is expected to last three to five days.
By afternoon, the wind was blowing and the forecast for the next few days called for a mix of rain and snow that will make the task more difficult.
"This is a landfill -- conditions are less than ideal," Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said during a news briefing metres away from the search area.
Police believe Nepinak was slain by an alleged serial killer in September 2011, her body wrapped in plastic and placed in a West End Dumpster.
Shawn Lamb was charged in connection with the death of Nepinak and two other women. After Lamb's arrest in June, police believed they knew where in the landfill Nepinak's remains might be found.
But by September, police realized there were too many possible sites within the landfill, making a meaningful search impossible.
However, a scaled-down search has started, based on the recommendations of native elders who sensed they know where she might be found following a ceremony at the landfill late in the summer.
The search is concentrated on a tiny patch within the 790-hectare site -- an area about eight metres wide by eight metres long by eight metres deep, a short distance away from where the native ceremony was held.
A backhoe digs up debris and placed it nearby. Six officers from the forensic identification unit work 10 hours a day, sifting through the debris with rakes.
A safety officer watches over the team, monitoring the area for hazards, including dangerous levels of methane.
The searchers wear respirators and blue biochemical suits.
Two senior police officers who designed the project, Insp. Liz Pilcher and Staff Sgt. Will Symons, also supervise the search.
A windbreak was created using hay bales, but that's the only protection provided to the searchers from the weather.
"They're going through the material from top to bottom," Michalyshen said. "It's a very tedious process."
Symons said there are various hazardous materials in the landfill that could pose a danger -- sharp objects and animal carcasses, which could result in infection or injury.
The strong winds also blow the exposed debris around, posing another risk to the search team.
Michalyshen said if the searchers find anything they believe to be human remains, a medical examiner will be consulted.
"Our commitment is to complete this search," Michalyshen said.
The Nepinak family was not at the site Wednesday, but Michalyshen said they are welcome to attend, and they will be contacted immediately if the searchers find anything.
Police know the chances of finding the remains are minimal.
However, Michalyshen said police are also using the search as an opportunity to gain expertise in the event another one needs to be carried out.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 4, 2012 B1
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 28 articles for today)
Chiropractor guilty of sexually assaulting, beating ex-girlfriend
4:24 PMAn Osborne Street chiropractor was found guilty today of raping and beating a former girlfriend.
Justice Colleen Suche handed down a ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Links plan loses on scorecard
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- A new mom's booze-fuelled hell
- Firefighters put out blaze in Manitoba Avenue home
- Two in custody after death on Pauingassi First Nation
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Police identify slaying victims
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- 'Responsible Winnipeg' ads appear on sign run by mayor-owned Goldeyes' baseball park
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- A child-custody catastrophe
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Man charged, victims identified in double homicide
- Co-worker 'sick' today? Maybe it's the $17M flu
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- '2 minutes after I read the winning numbers, I retired': Winnipeg lotto winner
- Parents, community relieved and elated as missing boy found safe
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Man missing since 2009 found safe
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Francophone paper turns 100, digitizes all editions
- Manitoba appointees violate feds' rules
- 'It's a beautiful story': There's not always a tomorrow to say you're sorry or make things right
- The end of the credit card?
- Goose gets cooked in Linden Woods
- Apple trick on Ellen falls short for city woman
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Fishing for fashion
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Sex charges for ex-club boss
- Core grocer a challenge: expert
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Newly minted MD a beacon for kids in youth program
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Mental-health patients get own ER
- A child-custody catastrophe
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Steen invests $1M in family entertainment centre
- Earls on Main going, but new one coming
- Province introduces changes to rules governing landlords, renters
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Boost same-sex curricula: union
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.