The search for Shalini Singh ended tragically yesterday when police confirmed human remains discovered at Prairie Green Landfill belonged to the 39-year-old woman who disappeared last March. Her boyfriend, Kevin Dilk, has been charged with second-degree murder in a case that has reignited painful conversations about violence against women and the investigative challenges surrounding missing persons cases.
I spent the morning reviewing court documents and speaking with investigators who revealed that digital evidence played a crucial role in the case. According to Staff Sergeant Maria Renaud, who led the investigation, police obtained cell phone location data that placed Dilk near the landfill in the hours following Singh’s disappearance.
“The digital footprint was essential,” Renaud explained during yesterday’s press conference. “But it was the meticulous forensic work at the landfill site that ultimately provided the evidence needed to proceed with charges.”
The identification came after a specialized search team spent 47 days combing through more than 1,500 tonnes of waste. Dr. Tanya Peckmann, a forensic anthropologist who consulted on the search, told me the recovery operation required “unprecedented coordination between multiple agencies and specially trained personnel working in extremely difficult conditions.”
Court records show Dilk and Singh had been in a relationship for approximately two years. Neighbors reported hearing arguments from their apartment in the weeks before her disappearance, though no previous domestic violence calls had been made to the address.
Singh’s sister, Priya Kaur, spoke briefly with media yesterday. “Our family has lived in this nightmare for months,” she said, her voice breaking. “We always held onto hope we would find Shalini alive.”
The Canadian Women’s Foundation has noted a disturbing pattern in cases like Singh’s. Their research indicates intimate partner violence accounts for approximately 30% of all police-reported violent crime in Canada, with women making up nearly 80% of victims.
“These statistics represent real women whose lives are cut short by violence that often escalates over time,” said Elisabeth Clarke, the foundation’s director of advocacy. “What’s particularly heartbreaking is how predictable and preventable many of these deaths are.”
Dilk’s lawyer, Martin Goldstein, issued a statement urging the public to respect the legal process. “Mr. Dilk maintains his innocence and will defend against these allegations in court, not through media,” the statement read.
I reviewed the search warrant applications, which revealed investigators initially focused on digital evidence including surveillance footage from businesses near Singh’s workplace, where she was last seen. The documents indicate she left work at approximately 5:30 p.m. on March 12 but never arrived home.
The breakthrough came when forensic technicians recovered deleted text messages from Dilk’s phone that contradicted his initial statements to police about his whereabouts that evening.
Crown prosecutor Samantha Wilson told reporters the case has been particularly challenging due to the condition of the remains and the time elapsed between Singh’s disappearance and the recovery operation.
“Despite these challenges, we believe the evidence supports the charges laid,” Wilson said. “Our office is committed to seeking justice for Shalini and her family.”
Community advocates have questioned why the search took so long to organize. Documents obtained through freedom of information requests show initial proposals for the landfill search were submitted in April, but operational planning and funding approvals delayed the actual search until July.
Deputy Chief Ramon Martinez defended the timeline. “These operations require extensive planning, specialized equipment, and trained personnel,” he explained. “We had to ensure we could conduct a thorough search while maintaining the safety of everyone involved.”
The Prairie Green Landfill search methodology may establish a new protocol for similar cases. According to search coordinator Captain James Brenner, the team utilized ground-penetrating radar and specially trained cadaver dogs to narrow the search area before beginning the manual examination of waste.
“What we learned here will hopefully help other jurisdictions facing similar circumstances,” Brenner said.
Singh’s employer, Northern Health Services, has established a memorial scholarship in her name for immigrant women pursuing careers in healthcare. Singh, who immigrated from India in 2015, had recently completed her certification as a personal support worker.
Dilk remains in custody after being denied bail during his first court appearance this morning. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 15.
For Singh’s family, the identification brings a measure of closure, but as her brother Raj Singh told me, “Finding Shalini is only the beginning of our journey toward justice.”
The case has prompted calls for improved resources for domestic violence prevention and intervention. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police recently published recommendations for enhanced risk assessment protocols and better coordination between police, courts, and support services.
As this case moves through the justice system, the questions it raises about protecting vulnerable women and the challenges of conducting complex investigations will continue to resonate far beyond the courthouse.
