Police end landfill search for body of Tanya Nepinak; relatives say wrong location examined

Police said searchers will concentrate on a focused area that was identified by aboriginal elders in a ceremony at the landfill.

Winnipeg police said they’ve finished their search of the Brady Road Landfill for the body of Tanya Nepinak. Her family, however, wants efforts to resume and say the wrong area was examined.

Police said Thursday that no evidence relevant to the investigation was located in the search. Three search team coordinators and six forensic identification members were involved in it.

The search area was picked based on a spot identified by aboriginal elders in a traditional ceremony.

“This is, you know, a very complex investigation and we were faced with a very complex search and unfortunately the results aren’t what we all had hoped,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen from Winnipeg police.

Nepinak disappeared in September 2011. Police previously said they believe her body was put in a West End dumpster and then transported to the landfill.

Shawn Lamb has been charged with second-degree murder for Nepinak's death and the deaths of two other women. Nepinak’s body is the only one not recovered.

Nepinak's family held a press conference Thursday. Tanya’s sister Gail Nepinak wants officers to go back to the landfill to keep looking.

"They took four days. What's another four days of them searching?" asked Gail.

She said police searched the wrong area instead of the one they had promised to check.

“When we went to the area and when we saw the whole area it was totally different and we were telling them and we were trying to explain to them but the lead investigator wasn't even listening to us,” said Gail.

Officers insist the area was chosen by an aboriginal elder who was endorsed by a family member.

“We don't always provide the best of news, we don't always provide the most popular answers but I can tell you our commitment is unwavered with respect to the Tanya Nepinak investigation, and our intentions have always been sincere,” said Michalyshen. While the search of the landfill is finished, police said the investigation continues.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at 1-855-817-4949. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 204-786-9477.

Tanya’s family members said they now want to speak directly with Winnipeg Police Chief Keith McCaskill as they believe he is the only one who will listen.

Police issued a statement late Thursday afternoon.

“The Winnipeg Police Service understands and sympathizes with the Nepinak family and the grieving process they are going through at this time.  We also understand that their grieving has been compounded due to the unsuccessful search at the Brady Landfill site. Members of the Executive were initially approached by an Aboriginal Elder endorsed by a family member resulting in a specified area to be searched.  The Winnipeg Police Service fulfilled their commitment to the family by completing that search.  Despite the fact that the search at the Brady Landfill site has now concluded the search for Tanya is on-going,” said police.