A police operation is currently ongoing at the Thunder Bay Solid Waste and Recycling Facility as part of an inquiry into the demise of Deborah Anishinabie, as revealed by the Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) on Monday. Anishinabie, a 42-year-old individual from Sandy Lake First Nation, was discovered deceased in the city in December, stated Jeremy Pearson, TBPS deputy chief. The search at the landfill is aimed at locating any possible correlated evidence, including potential partial human remains, Pearson informed CBC News on Monday afternoon.
Levi Michael Lawson is facing charges of second-degree murder and indignity to a human body. Pearson mentioned that the TBPS, along with support from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service (NAPS), is carrying out the landfill exploration. Authorities have assured the public that there is no threat to safety.
Pearson empathized with the impact of the event on Anishinabie’s family, acknowledging the distress it has caused. Anishinabie’s family, represented by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) executive council, paid tribute to her in a statement, highlighting her vibrant and caring nature. The family expressed their deep sorrow over the investigation, emphasizing the emotional difficulty they are facing.
NAN extended its thoughts and prayers to Anishinabie’s family and Sandy Lake community, urging everyone affected to seek support from available resources and mental health professionals. Beendigen, an Indigenous support and counseling organization, emphasized the importance of seeking help during such distressing times and offered assistance through their Talk4Healing Helpline.
For individuals impacted by missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, crisis helplines and support services are available, including the MMIWG Crisis Line and Kids Help Phone, to provide assistance and guidance during challenging circumstances.
