Homicide victim found in South Point Douglas identified as 40-year-old mother

The woman whose remains were found along the riverbank in South Point Douglas last month has been identified as 40-year-old June Christine Johnson.

Police are confirming her death was a homicide but would not reveal if there are any suspects.

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

Johnson’s family called her a “loving, devoted mom who loved her children” and described her as outgoing with a great sense of humour.

The family – in a statement read by police at a press conference Wednesday – says “addiction took over all aspects of her life.”

Warning: Readers may find some of the following details disturbing

The Winnipeg Police Service’s homicide unit was first alerted April 15 to possible human remains near Curtis Street and Higgins Avenue – at Fort Douglas Park.

Police held a press conference three days later asking for the public’s help in identifying the woman.

Winnipeg homicide scene at Fort Douglas Park on April 17, 2023. (Steve Anderson, CityNews)

Winnipeg homicide scene at Fort Douglas Park on April 17, 2023. (Steve Anderson, CityNews)

On Wednesday, Sgt. Wade McDonald of the homicide unit said calls began coming in immediately after that press conference last month.

He says police were able to identify Johnson as the victim within a day-and-a-half – officers have been in communication with the family since April 17. Johnson’s identity was fully confirmed with forensic identification after a second post-mortem.

“My investigators describe them as a kind, considerate family and are just looking for justice and the truth be told in regards to June,” McDonald said.

Police maintain her death is a standalone homicide not linked to other events.

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McDonald says Johnson was last seen in the downtown area in early February, but police don’t have any details about her whereabouts after that. They are again turning to the public for more information in the hopes of establishing a timeline.

“Any information on who her friends were, where she went during the evening hours, who she associated with,” said McDonald. “No small detail is not important in this investigation.

“That’s why we’re here today”

Homicide victim June Christine Johnson prior to 2019. (Submitted by: Winnipeg Police Service)

McDonald says the victim frequented several downtown organizations such as Shalom Mission, the Salvation Army and Main Street Project.

Due to the “sensitive nature” of the homicide, McDonald would not reveal a cause of death, nor could he say where Johnson was killed.

Police have previously said they did not know how long the woman’s remains were near the Fort Douglas Park area.