Morgan Harris remembered at vigil 1 year after charges against alleged serial killer

Family members gathered to remember their loved one Friday night at the former home of an alleged serial killer, one year after police announced first-degree murder charges in the deaths of three First Nations women.

The family of Morgan Harris along with other community members held a vigil which included prayer, song and speeches from her daughter, relatives and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, among others. All who spoke reflected on the hardships of the last year and vowed notgive up their fight to haveManitoba landfill searched.

"I want people to remember Morgan as someone with the soul of a UFC [fighter]," said her daughter, Cambria. "Someone who was feisty, someone who fought for what she cared for and she didn't give a damn what you said about it, her opinion mattered and her opinion still matters later in life."

At a news conference on Dec. 1, 2022, police announced that Jeremy Skibicki had been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and a still-unidentified woman who was later given the name Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.

Skibicki had also been charged earlier that year with first-degree murder in the death of Rebecca Contois, 24.

Police said days later they believed the remains of Harris and Myran, who were killed in May, had been taken to the Prairie Green landfill, just north of Winnipeg. Their families have fought to have it searched ever since.

Jessica Courchene has lived at the North Kildonan apartment complexfor more than a decade.

She put up a poster over the last few days with photos of Harris, Myran and Contois as well as information about Buffalo Woman. The poster, nailed to a tree outside the complex, also has information about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

"Unfortunately this is where families can come to feel as close as possible to their loved ones for now," said Courchene. "And I hope eventually that changes for the sake of the families to have that closure."

Courchene said the building being Skibicki's former residence "definitely put a bit of a damper" on it. She said her and fellow residents have also become a lot closer since they learned Skibicki lived in that building.

They also all checked in on each other when pre-trial motions took place back in November.

Courchene said as someone who lives in the building, it's important not to forget about the women and that when some see their photos, they may only know them as the victims of an alleged serial killer.

"I don't feel that's fair," she said. "These women should be remembered for who they were, what they liked, their favourite colours, what they did because they're human."

'It's been a long year:' Cousin of Morgan Harris

Harris' cousins, Melissa Robinson, said returning to the North Kildonan apartment complex was "a little bit harder than it was last year," especially following the recent pretrial where they heard details about their loved one's death.

"So to come back here now not so much with that initial shock, still just as sad though, it was that much harder," she said. "I had a little bit of anxiety as we were driving here,it's been a long year."

Robinson said the community support for the family has been amazing. She also said while they're a strong bunch on their own, having the community behind them in big numbers "means so much."

WATCH|People gather to remember Morgan Harris:

Vigil for Morgan Harris marks 1 year since charges announced against accused serial killer

10 months ago

Duration 2:20

Family and supporters gathered Friday night to remember Morgan Harris, one of four women Winnipeg police say were killed by the same man. They drummed, sang and spoke outside an apartment building on McKay Avenue, the home of Jeremy Skibicki, who faces four charges of first-degree murder.

CambriaHarris said it's also important to recognize every home in the city has a story and that the oneeveryonegathered at Friday night is connected to an alleged serial killer. She also said as a mother herself, it's important to continue "putting on that fight for the next generation," so that "maybe in 20 years from now we won't have to push so hard."

"It's sad to see that we need to create an uprising just to create a little bit of noise to get people's ears to open a little bit," she said. "But we are seeing change happening slowly, but it's important that we continue to push forward."