Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2015
SOLVED/UNSOLVED/MISSING
Between 1980 and 2012, the solved rate in the cases of murdered indigenous women compiled by the Star is 70 per cent, which is lower than the
88 per cent solve rate the RCMP reported in its 2014 report for the same time frame. The RCMP report cited a solve rate for non-aboriginal female
homicides to by 89 per cent, based on an analysis of Canada-wide homicides from 1980 to 2012.
Another difference is the number of unsolved cases. The Star analysis identified 180 cases between 1980 and 2012, The RCMP cited 120 cases for
that same time period.
It is unclear why there are such large differences. The RCMP data came from police-reported figures. The Star analysis is based largely on media
reports.
Murders - 1980-2012
Status
Murder/Suicide
Murdered unclear outcome
Solved murder
Unsolved murder
Unsolved murder - Acquittal
Total
Murders - Per cent solved
AB
BC
MB
NB
NFLD
NS
NU
NWT
1
ON
PEI
QC
SK
YK
Total
19
25
410
180
13
647
70.2%
6
1
4
2
2
1
2
4
1
6
1
8
1
4
68
97
75
3
10
6
20
6
49
2
14
58
3
40
65
30
1
6
2
2
16
7
10
1
3
3
1
1
1
4
121
167
116
3
11
12
25
9
76
2
24
78
4
64.5% 59.3% 73.3% 100.0% 90.9% 50.0% 92.0% 77.8% 77.6% 100.0% 66.7% 82.1% 75.0%
CountOfPerson
24
67
26
1
2
1
5
13
6
25
1
171
1
1
80%
6
1
17
10
10
9
3
50%
2 1 1
1 1 2 1 1
1 2 1
4 1
Unsolved murder
2 1 2
10
25
19
40%
13
10
30%
1
1
1
10%
16
12
Solved murder
25 18
17
23 18 14
23 25
18
19 22
12
22
25
5
4
1 1
4
1
3
1
1
2
1
3 2
2 1
1
1
1 2 1 1
Blank
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1957
1958
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
1
2
12
0%
The proportion
of unsolved
murders is
decreasing, and
has been for
decades.
60%
20%
6 6
7 9
3
2
7 9
70%
18
4 4 4 2 3
*Star research relied heavily on searches of electronic news databases, many of which go back as far as the mid-80s.
Blank
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1957
1958
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Murders
50
45
43
40
35
36
31 31
30 27
26
25
20
18
15
14
5
2
0
1 1 0 0 1 1
2
4
1 1 0 0 1
4 3
1
1
2
3 3
5
4 3 3
2
14
10
10
4
2
1
13
15
14
16 15 16 15
19
30
32
27
27
21
19
28
30
23
20 20
Murders
16
8
10
2
4
RELATION TO VICTIM
The RCMP reported in 2014 that more than 90 per cent of female aboriginal homicide victims had some sort of a relationship with
their killer. Lumped into the acquaintance grouping are people who may have had only a passing link to the victim or a criminal
one. That category would include serial killers who knew a victim and pimps and drug dealers. Where the relationship of a killer to the
victim was specified, The Star analysis found half involved a partner, ex-partner or some other relative (domestic). Another 16 per
cent fell into the acquaintance category. A full 15 per cent were strangers, and another 13 per cent were serial killers, which the Star
put into a separate category. In other words, where the relationship was specified, 28 per cent involved a stranger or a serial killer,
which are known to be tougher crimes to solve. It would be safe to assume then that, of the unsolved cases, a higher proportion of
those are the work of strangers, serial killers or more loosely connected acquaintances.
Where relationship is known
Relationship
Domestic - all relation types
Acquaintance
Stranger
Serial Killer
Police
Medical negligence
Foster Care Negligence
Total
Count
226
69
62
56
5
1
1
420
53.8%
16.4%
14.8%
13.3%
1.2%
0.2%
0.2%
100.0%
ONTARIO/THUNDER BAY
According to the RCMP analysis of police-reported solve rates, Ontario police services had an overall solve rate of 93 per cent for
both aboriginal female and non-aboriginal female homicides between 1980 and 2012. According to the RCMP report, that is the
highest in the country for more populated provinces.
The Star analysis of cases from 1980 to 2012 found Ontarios solve rate in aboriginal female homicides to be 77 per cent. Looking at
all of the Ontario cases, regardless of timeframe, the Ontario solved rate drops to 69 per cent.
The RCMP in 2014 reported that, from 1980 to 2012, there were nine missing persons cases and eight unsolved homicides involving
aboriginal women in Ontario. From 1980 to 2012, the Star analysis identified 17 unsolved murders and 10 missing women. Over all
years, the Star analysis identified 13 missing persons cases and 28 unsolved murders.
Again, the reasons for the differences are unclear. The RCMP data came from police-reported figures. The Star analysis is based
largely on media reports.
As noted previously, the ratio of unsolved murders to solved murders is becoming smaller over time.
CountOfPerson
53
28
13
9
9
5
2
2
1
1
1
1
125
CountOfPerson
1
7
3
10
2
8
1
49
16
1
98
22.1%
25
15
6
4
3
2
1
1
57
10
CountOfPerson
10
8
3
1
1
1
24
11
Over time in Ontario, the ratio of unsolved to solved homicides is getting smaller.
100%
90%
1
1
2
1
80%
1
70%
3
2
60%
Unsolved murder
Solved murder
4
40%
4
3
2
30%
1
20%
2
1
10%
2
1
No year
1958
1966
1973
1974
1977
1978
1986
1987
1988
1989
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Total
0%
12
WINNIPEG
The solved rate for murders in Winnipeg, looking at all years, is 60.3 per cent well below the Canadian and provincial averages.
Ten of the MMIW cases came in 2008 alone.
Winnipeg cases - all
Status
Solved murder
Unsolved murder
Missing
Murdered unclear outcome
Death - undetermined
cause
Total
CountOfPerson
44
27
15
2
1
89
13
10
Murdered
Missing
10
1
4
6
3
2
3
2
1
2
1
1
2
3
2
2
1
2
1
0
Year 1961 1970 1974 1977 1980 1984 1987 1988 1989 1991 1993 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
14
10
Unsolved murder
1
Solved murder
Murdered unclear outcome
5
2
1977
1980
2009
1974
2008
1970
2001
1961
1998
Year
1997
1996
1993
1991
1988
1987
2007
1
2
2000
2006
2013
2012
2011
2010
2005
2004
2003
2002
1999
1989
1984
15
16
Manner of death
Category
Unclear
Stabbed
Shot
Beaten
Strangled
Blunt force trauma
Asphyxiated
Trauma
Alcohol poisoning
Head injuries
Drowned
Vehicle
Fire
Overdose
Hypothermia
No body found
Axed
Stabbed - throat cut
Decapitated
Hung
Poisoned
Arson
Beaten/kicked
Multiple injuries
Neglect
Broken neck
Internal injuries
Pushed from building
Pushed into window
Repeated shaking
SumOfBodyFoundMannerOfDeath
318
129
83
71
56
32
18
12
10
10
9
8
7
7
6
6
5
4
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
17
OTHER FINDINGS
GIRLS One out of seven murdered aboriginal females in our database are girls aged 12 to 18. Nearly one in four of the 170 missing
persons cases involve a girl between the ages of 12 and 18.
Missing ages 12 to 18
Province
CountOfPerson
AB
BC
15
MB
10
NU
NWT
ON
QC
SK
Total
40
18
Murdered/death ages 12 to 18
Province
AB
BC
MB
NB
NFLD
NS
NU
NWT
ON
QC
SK
YK
YT
Total
CountOfPerson
14
38
21
2
1
1
2
1
20
9
8
1
1
119
19
PER CAPITA ANALYSIS Comparing case totals from all years to most recent provincial aboriginal female population figures, a
Star analysis shows that, per capita, the likelihood of an aboriginal girl or women going missing or being murdered or dying under
suspicious circumstances is the greatest in British Columbia, followed by Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Ontario, which has
the highest population of aboriginal females in Canada has one of the lowest likelihoods. New Brunswick has the lowest likelihood,
followed by Quebec.
Cases by province, compared to female aboriginal population
Province
BC
AB
MB
SK
ON
QC
NU
NFLD
NWT
NS
NB
YK
PEI
Overall - Canada
*All years
**Latest available population
1
5
7
4
11
12
2
8
3
10
13
9
6
20
Looking at the top 25 cities and towns in terms of numbers missing and murdered indigenous women for all years, and comparing that
to most recent overall aboriginal populations (male and female combined), the likelihood of indigenous women going missing or
being murdered or dying in suspicious circumstances is highest in Vancouver, followed by Quesnel, Hobbema and Iqaluit. Of the top
25, the likelihood is lowest in Halifax, followed by Calgary, Hamilton, Prince Albert and Toronto.
Top 25 cities - all case types of MMIW* - with rate per female Aboriginal population
CityOrTown
Vancouver
Quesnel
Hobbema
Iqaluit
Fort St John
Penticton
Thunder Bay
Prince George
Burnaby
Victoria, BC
Coquitlam
Whitehorse
Edmonton
Regina
Surrey
Kamloops
Winnipeg
Saskatoon
Count of
Aboriginal female
1 case per every XXX female
cases
population
aboriginal
6,108
78
78
6
736
123
6
873
146
10
1,992
199
5
1,036
207
5
1,062
212
24
5,186
216
19
4,534
239
7
1,688
241
7
1,786
255
5
1,331
266
6
1,900
317
64
21,060
329
27
9,622
356
14
5,545
396
8
3,196
400
37,198
89
418
25
10,905
436
Per capita
rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
21
Yellowknife
Brandon
Toronto
Prince Albert
Hamilton
Calgary
Halifax
*All cases includes ones where type is unclear
5
5
15
10
6
16
5
2,378
2,620
9,999
7,305
5,265
14,478
4,945
476
524
667
731
878
905
989
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
22
AGE Overall, the average age of the murdered women is 26.6 years old. The average age of missing is 27.8.
Average age of murdered
Province
Avg age
AB
27.3
BC
25.1
MB
24.2
MN
42.0
NB
31.0
NFLD
35.2
NS
32.3
NU
27.6
NWT
36.2
NY
25.0
ON
30.0
PEI
QC
34.5
27.7
SD
30.0
SK
25.6
YK
23.0
YT
11.0
23
Avg age
29.0
27.2
25.1
21.0
32.5
13.0
18.8
35.8
21.8
31.6
19.0
CountOfCases
746
170
103
28
27
20
Avg Age
26.6
27.8
31.4
28.5
21.1
26.8
24