Thirty-year-old Indigenous woman Mary Lidguerre was last seen in July 1995 in Vancouver, Canada’s Downtown Eastside, an area known for its high rates of poverty, addiction, and prostitution. Like many women in the area, Mary faced numerous challenges, including substance use and involvement in sex work. Her disappearance went largely unnoticed until over a year later, when, in August 1996, hikers discovered skeletal remains on Mount Seymour in North Vancouver. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, identification was challenging, but in 1997, dental records confirmed the remains belonged to Mary Lidguerre.
Mary’s case bore striking similarities to a series of murders that occurred in 1995, collectively referred to as the Hemlock Valley Murders. In that year, the bodies of three women—Tracy Olajide, Tammy Pipe, and Victoria Younker—were found in remote areas of British Columbia’s Fraser Valley. All three women were sex workers from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Their bodies were left in similar conditions, leading investigators to believe the murders were connected and possibly the work of a serial killer.
While Mary’s case shared several characteristics with the Hemlock Valley Murders, including her background and the circumstances of her disappearance, some officials believed her murder might not be directly related. The Forsaken report, stemming from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, noted that while Mary’s body was found in the North Shore mountains, it was believed her case was not connected to the other crimes.
The investigation into Mary’s murder faced numerous difficulties. The decomposition of her remains made it nearly impossible to determine the exact cause of death, and the lack of immediate identification delayed investigative efforts. Additionally, systemic issues, including societal biases against sex workers and Indigenous women, contributed to a lack of urgency and resources dedicated to solving her case.
At one point, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had a prime suspect—a local roofer named Ronald Richard McCauley, who was also investigated in connection with the three Hemlock Valley Murders. However, DNA tests ultimately cleared him of involvement in Mary’s murder. Additionally, just as in the Hemlock Valley case, potential suspect Robert “Willy” Pickton was also ruled out through DNA evidence.
Mary Lidguerre’s unsolved murder is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of violence against Indigenous women and sex workers in Canada. In recent years, there has been increased attention to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada, leading to national inquiries and calls for action. While these efforts have brought some progress, many families, including Mary’s, are still waiting for justice.
Crime Immemorial 