A man has been charged with second-degree murder and other offences after the remains of a missing Indigenous woman were found in Fort McMurray this week.
According to the RCMP, the human remains were found at a home in the Grayling Terrace neighbourhood on Jan. 24. An autopsy and investigation has confirmed the remains are those of Sherri Lynn Flett.
Flett was reported missing to the Wood Buffalo RCMP on Jan. 16. The RCMP said at the time that it was “out of character for her to not be in regular contact with her family and friends.”
On Thursday, Jan. 27, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation confirmed Flett’s passing.
“Today our hearts are with the family and friends of Sherri Lynn Flett,” a tweet reads. “We send our deepest condolences to everyone whose life she touched.”
In a previous statement, the ACFN said Flett was last seen on Jan. 12.
“We believe the Wood Buffalo RCMP will give the investigation into the disappearance of Sherri Lynn the priority it deserves given the backdrop of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) in Canada and our region,” Chief Allan Adam said on Jan. 24, before her remains were found.
Volunteer efforts to find the 43-year-old woman were mobilized in the days after she was reported missing.
The Alberta RCMP says a 37-year-old man has been charged with several offences, including second-degree murder, indignity to human remains, unlawful confinement, and additional firearms-related offences.
Timothy Andrew McDougall was taken into custody and is set to appear in court on Jan. 31.
