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It was in 2010, that 20-year-old Karina Beth Ann Wolfe went missing.
Today the search came to an end as Saskatoon police confirmed her remains were found earlier this month northwest of the city. Major crimes arrested a 33-year-old man in connection to Wolfe’s disappearance and murder. He has been charged with second degree murder and offering indignity to human remains. He will appear in provincial court on Monday, Nov. 30.
The news is ground-shaking for Saskatoon aboriginal community leaders especially Darlene Okemaysim-Sicotte, co-chair of Iskwewuk E-wichiwitochik (Women Walking Together), a group which advocates for families of missing and murdered indigenous women in Saskatchewan and brings awareness to the issue of violence against aboriginal women.
Since Karina’s disappearance more than five years ago she’s been beside Karina’s mother Carol, trying desperately to find answers. On Friday her worst nightmares about Karina came true.
“We are extremely heart-broken especially for Carol because she worked so hard with police and she’s been very gracious with the public,” Okemaysim-Sicotte said, just outside the Saskatoon Police Service Headquarters.
“We really want the community to pray for her, for strength for her because her experience is still going to be public. (We hope) she’s able to bring Karina home and lay her to rest.”
Okemaysim-Sicotte said she plans to meet with Carol and provide any supports needed to get through this difficult time.
“We’re all praying for her,” she said.
On Nov. 10 the Saskatoon Police Service received information that led them to a rural location northwest of Saskatoon. Human remains were recovered on Nov. 14, in the same area. DNA has since confirmed that the remains are those of Karina Wolfe.
Alyson Edwards with the police service sends he deepest condolences to Karina’s family.
“There is some relief in the fact that we have located Karina, we’ve been able to give answers to her family but our condolences go out to her family, it’s very tragic,” she said.
Edwards wouldn’t confirm exactly where Karina’s remains were found, how the evidence led to an arrest with charges pending, or who the 33-year-old man is and if he was known to Karina. Those details will be spelled out at a news conference on Monday.
Currently police are assembling a timeline trying to hammer down what happened to Karina in the last few hours of her life, who she was with and where she was.
Karina was last seen on July 2, 2010 when she disappeared at the age of 20. She was last seen by family on the 800 block of Appleby Drive getting into a grey Corvette of a male acquaintance around 6 p.m. Historically investigators said they believe she may have later been dropped off in the area of 20th Street West and Avenue H South.
Edwards said the family of Karina Wolfe is requesting privacy during the weekend, but Carol is expected to attend Monday’s news conference.
