Saskatoon police turning to landfill in search for woman missing since 2020
Mackenzie Lee Trottier last seen 4 days before Christmas
Gina Trottier held a supporter's hand tightly, tears welling in her eyes, as Paul Trottier talked about their missing daughter Mackenzie.
"We miss her and we've been waiting 1,215 days to hear her voice again," Paul said during a news conference put on by the Saskatoon Police Service Friday.
Police say they will search a specific part of the Saskatoon landfill as part of the investigation into the 2020 disappearance of Mackenzie Lee Trottier.
"On one hand we would like to find nothing and then we'll continue looking," Deputy Chief Cameron McBride said. "On the other hand, we may find her and then we'll proceed down the next course of the investigation.
"I must stress that Mackenzie is still considered a missing person and will be until we have direct information otherwise."
McBride said police obtained a substantial amount of data in late 2023 that pointed to a specific area of the landfill, located at 42 Valley Rd., that may contain evidence in the investigation.
"Over the course of the investigation there were several devices that were seized, and extraction of information from those devices has led us to the point where we are confident in the location that we're searching," McBride said.
The search will begin May 1 and focus on a specific area that is about 930 metres square and one metre deep.
It is expected to take as long as 33 days.
There have been several leads since the disappearance of Mackenzie, who was last seen on Dec. 21, 2020.
In 2021, the Calgary Police Service announced a person matching her description had been spotted several times in the city's downtown. Those leads came shortly after the family's inter-provincial poster campaign for Mackenzie in November 2021.
"Mackenzie is our first-born — or as we call her, Mac," Paul said. "She loves animals, is very bright and has always been prepared to take those under her wing who need help."
WATCH | Police and family speak to media about searching Saskatoon landfill:
Over the past 40 months the family has found support through the people surrounding them.
"Early on it was an all-out effort," Paul said. "But that never stopped. Our community is still there, is still supporting us."
While police received the new information months ago, McBride said they determined, after consulting with experts, that now was the best time to do the search at the landfill.
"For the sake of the integrity of the location and some preparatory work that's already been done, we wanted to ensure that we could keep this site secure and its integrity intact."
Calgary police, RCMP, Saskatoon police dogs and forensic anthropologist Ernie Walker will assist in the search.
The department has promised regular updates to the public.
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With files from Liam O'Connor and Theresa Kliem