Paul Trottier, with visible emotion, addressed the media on Tuesday at the Saskatoon Police headquarters, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the 44 officers who braved harsh weather conditions for three months to locate his missing daughter, Mackenzie Lee Trottier. The officers scoured the city’s landfill amid rain, wind, and extreme heat, ultimately recovering Mackenzie’s remains partially on July 30 and fully on August 1.
The autopsy report stated Mackenzie’s cause of death remains “undetermined,” and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service is continuing the investigation. Yet, for Paul, the discovery brings a bittersweet closure. “Today, we have the answers we were searching for. Mackenzie is home. Thank you everyone for that,” he stated.
The search at the Saskatoon landfill commenced on May 1 and was initially expected to last a month. However, as the need arose, it was extended. Dr. Ernie Walker, Saskatchewan’s forensic anthropologist, praised the effort. “This is one of the best examples of a large-scale search I’ve been involved in in 40 years. The Saskatoon police service now has unparalleled experience in this kind of operation,” he noted.
Mackenzie, aged 22, was last seen leaving her family’s home in Saskatoon’s East College Park neighborhood on December 21, 2020. Since then, details about her whereabouts remained sparse and speculative. During the press conference, Staff Sgt. Corey Lenius revealed that it is believed Mackenzie had been at a home in the 1300 block of Avenue B North, a place she often visited with a suspect before she died.
Lenius highlighted that a particular individual was always suspected to be involved in Mackenzie’s disappearance. Unfortunately, this male suspect died from a drug overdose in December 2023, preventing investigators from gathering enough evidence to confirm his involvement. Consequently, police refrained from disclosing the suspect’s name, age, or relationship to Mackenzie. A man previously shown in a police-released photo in 2021 was confirmed not to be the suspect.
Investigative efforts led to the targeted landfill search after evidence from the deceased suspect’s cellphone indicated the exact area to search. Although police had prior access to the suspect’s electronic data, a new investigator’s analysis in December 2023 revealed additional insights. This data showed that the suspect had searched for the next garbage pickup date for the Avenue B North address. Using GPS coordinates, the police tracked the relevant garbage truck to its unloading site at the landfill.
The police then undertook a painstaking search through approximately 5,000 tonnes of debris, initially covering an area of 930 cubic meters, which grew as the search progressed. Dr. Walker explained that landfill searches are complex and seldom successful due to the dynamic nature of dumped waste, which can be displaced by heavy machinery.
However, Saskatoon’s unique garbage disposal practices and the officers’ diligent work during what Dr. Walker termed a “meticulous” search contributed to the breakthrough. Officers examined thousands of bone fragments and other significant items, contributing to the eventual discovery of Mackenzie’s remains.
Chief Cam McBride reported that the cost of the search is estimated around $1.5 million. With no other suspects identified, the investigation is now considered closed.
The determined efforts of the Saskatoon police and supporting experts, coupled with advanced investigative techniques, finally brought answers to a grieving family after nearly four years of uncertainty and pain.
