‘These are human beings’: Daughters of murder victim criticize Winnipeg police, calls on Ottawa to act

The daughters of a woman who Winnipeg police say was among four victims of an alleged serial killer say investigators are bungling the criminal investigation.

Police believe Morgan Harris and three other Indigenous women in Winnipeg were murdered by the same man, who has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.

Speaking Tuesday morning on Parliament Hill, Harris’s daughters, Cambria and Kera Harris, said they want police to search for the body of their missing loved one.

Cambria Harris on Parliament Hill on Dec. 6, 2022. (Credit: CPAC)

Hours later, Winnipeg police clarified why they felt a search of the Prairie Green landfill – where Harris’ remains are believed to be – was unfeasible. They cited the dense terrain at the landfill, time elapsed since the murders and lack of technological support.

READ: Search for remains at Prairie Green landfill ‘not feasible’: Winnipeg police

“Last night as I sat down with members of the Winnipeg Police Service, they had the nerve to put together this little Power Point of all the reasons why they won’t search,” said Cambria. “And I didn’t see one point on there saying why they should. There wasn’t a single point.

“And it was basically to say ‘we failed you and we’re not going to do anything.’ And I think that’s disgusting.”

The other three victims are Rebecca Contois, Marcedes Myran and an unnamed woman identified as Buffalo Woman. All four are believed to be Indigenous.

Contois’ partial remains were found at the Brady Road landfill. Police explained Tuesday the conditions at Brady – unlike Prairie Green – made the search a possibility.

READ MORE:

• Police should reconsider decision not to search landfill for remains: advocates
• Indigenous advocate calls for more support, long-term funding after women killed

“I do not agree with how this is being handled,” said Kera. “This is people you are leaving alone in the landfill, these are human beings. How can you even fathom the idea to leave them there?”

Kera wonders why police are not asking for help.

“We have the people who are willing to help and do the work for you, but you are not accepting it.”

Winnipeg police Chief Danny Smyth said at the press conference it’s not a question of funding or resources – they say it’s simply not feasible given the circumstances.

Lack of progress from government: Miller

Leah Gazan, the Winnipeg NDP critic for women and gender equality, joined the Harris family in Ottawa Tuesday.

Gazan is calling for more action and supports after the murders of these Indigenous women, and what she called the ongoing genocide against MMIWG2S+ people.

“I’ve been working with Minster (Marc) Miller to make sure that his government finds immediate resources for families, for searches.”

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller did not mince words, citing a lack of progress on the government’s part.

“This tragedy is ongoing, and Winnipeg is the epicentre of it,” said Miller. “I think as we recognize the failure of the federal government to keep these women safe it’s important to realize that there are women today in the same place.”