Alexandra Wiwcharuk was born on February 3, 1939, in Saskatchewan, Canada, and raised in a Ukrainian-Canadian family. She was a bright and compassionate young woman who chose a career in nursing. Known for her intelligence and striking beauty, Alexandra also participated in local beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Saskatoon in 1959.
Alexandra was deeply involved in her community, working at Saskatoon’s St. Paul’s Hospital. Her patients and colleagues admired her caring nature and vibrant spirit. On the surface, she appeared to be leading a charmed life—but tragedy would soon end her promising future.
On May 31, 1962, 23-year-old Alexandra left her home on a sunny morning for a jog along the South Saskatchewan Riverbank—a routine she often enjoyed. When she failed to show up for work at the hospital, her friends and colleagues were immediately concerned. Her disappearance was reported to the police that evening, sparking a large-scale search effort.
Nine days later, on June 10, 1962, her body was discovered in a shallow grave along the riverbank near the University of Saskatchewan. She had been raped, beaten, and suffocated. Her face had been severely disfigured. Police believed the killer had attempted to conceal the body with sand and brush. The brutal nature of the crime shocked the community, and media coverage spread across Canada.
From the outset, the investigation into Alexandra’s murder was intense. Over 1,500 people were questioned, and more than 200 suspects were identified in the early months. However, as time passed, leads dried up. The police were never able to conclusively identify the perpetrator.
The evidence was sparse. Forensic technology at the time was primitive compared to modern standards. No witnesses came forward, and while some items near the body offered clues (including personal items and a scarf), nothing led investigators to a definitive suspect.
Rumors swirled that the killer might have been someone Alexandra knew—possibly even a person in a position of power. Others suspected a random predator. Theories were plentiful, but none could be proven.
In the decades following her death, Alexandra’s murder would remain a haunting cold case. But in the early 2000s, renewed interest in the case emerged, particularly as forensic science evolved.
In 2004, author and CBC journalist David Carpenter published a novel titled The Sitting Lady Sutra, a fictionalized account of Alexandra’s murder that reignited public interest in her story. Around the same time, members of Alexandra’s family, particularly her brother, began to push for a fresh investigation using DNA testing.
Despite initial resistance, the RCMP eventually reopened the case. Alexandra’s remains were exhumed in 2005 for forensic analysis. The hope was that new DNA technology might reveal new evidence. While this showed some promise, results were inconclusive, and no new suspects were publicly identified.
As of May 2025, the horrific murder of Alexandra Wiwcharuk is still unsolved.
Crime Immemorial 