Homicide investigation: WPS criticizes private eye’s ‘irresponsible’ unconfirmed images, information

A Winnipeg private investigator has been rallying the public to identify the remains of a young woman who was found in South Point Douglas.

But police say when it comes to an active investigation, it’s imperative their critical process is followed and not sidestepped.

“I would say it’s a slippery slope,” said WPS Const. Dani McKinnon.

BACKGROUND: Police trying to identify homicide victim after partial remains found at Fort Douglas Park

Earlier this month Winnipeg police released information about the victim to the public to find her identity.

Investigators have released some information about the woman. For instance they believe she is over 20 years old, between five-foot tall and five-foot-five with a “slight” build.

“We are asking the community for assistance. We need help,” Sgt. Wade McDonald with the homicide unit told reporters April 18.

Since then, Janie Duncan, a private investigator with Duncan Investigations Inc., has been gathering information and posting it to her firm’s Facebook page. Posts include drawings and recovered items that may have belonged to the victim – like a pair of dentures.

Some of the posts have been shared hundreds of times.

While the information like witness drawings and testimony is spreading widely, none of it is official or coming from law enforcement, which police say can be a problem.

“To put out a drawing to the public that is not tested, or is potentially not through a trained forensic artist, is potentially irresponsible,” said McKinnon.

McKinnon says police are aware of the posts. She says the process to produce a composite sketch, and even the process of releasing information to the public, must be followed through proper channels.

“If somebody collects evidence or if they become aware of it, or they stumble upon it, in the public domain the expectation is that they would turn it over to the police immediately or make the police aware and not do a third-party posting of that asking who it belongs to,” she said.

“So that again is potentially tainting to an investigation.”

FILE – Const. Dani McKinnon with the Winnipeg Police Service’s public information office. (CityNews)

CityNews reached out to Duncan for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Kevin Walker, the interim executive director with the Bear Clan Patrol, works on the frontlines searching for missing people in Winnipeg every day. He says the work involves a delicate balance of public and police involvement.

“The information that’s flowing both ways is critical,” he said.

“It gives us the proper information and not just false leads, and we’re just running around acting on something that may not be true.”

Kevin Walker, the interim executive director with the Bear Clan Patrol, on April 29, 2023. (Steve Anderson/CityNews)

He says while it’s important everyone gets involved in search efforts for missing community members, people have to make sure they’re contributing in positive ways, saying Bear Clan is always looking for people to help with patrols and searches.

Posts on the private eye’s Facebook post have slowed in recent days. A Friday post did urge people to reach out to police directly.

“To those that have provided relevant information to me, I am encouraging you to get involved and forward to the contact in homicide on this page,” the post read. “We hear about missing and murdered women in Winnipeg all the time but crime is not just a police responsibility, the community needs to get involved.”

McKinnon says while police are still seeking any and all information from the public about the investigation, it must be handled properly.

“Everybody wants to help, wouldn’t it be great if this was a big lead, but the manner and the process in which it’s taking place is irresponsible,” she said.