Left: Crews search the North Saskatchewan River as part of a renewed investigation into the 2018 disappearance of Ashley Morin, who is believed to have been the victim of a homicide. (submitted/Saskatchewan RCMP) Right: Ashley Morin (File photo/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

MISSING ASHLEY

Lead Mountie offers insight into renewed search for Ashley Morin

Jun 18, 2025 | 5:57 AM

As RCMP renew their search along the North Saskatchewan River for Ashley Morin, Supt. Josh Graham says it’s another step toward finding answers in a case that has weighed on the Battlefords community for nearly seven years.

“We know that somebody knows something about what happened to her, particularly around her death,” Graham, who is in charge of the operation, told battlefordsNOW.

Morin, 31, was last seen in North Battleford in July 2018. Police believe she was murdered, though her remains have never been found.

The new search effort began Monday and will carry through the week, focusing on the river and riverbanks near the Battlefords. The operation involves boats, divers, and ground crews conducting shoulder-to-shoulder grid searches.

Crews search the North Saskatchewan River as part of a renewed investigation into the 2018 disappearance of Ashley Morin, who is believed to have been the victim of a homicide. (submitted/Saskatchewan RCMP)

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When asked what prompted the operation, Graham said it was tied to an investigative lead developed over time. While he could not disclose whether the lead was new or old, he emphasized it was a necessary next step in the investigation.

“And hopefully hold the person or persons responsible.”

The action is being led by the RCMP’s Historical Case Unit with support from Search and Rescue, the Underwater Recovery Team, and the Battlefords detachment.

“They’re trying to search in a thorough, consistent manner to look for, number one, Ashley’s remains — that’s probably the primary component of this search — but also potential evidence that could be linked to her death,” said Graham.

“This really is a game about being thorough and being patient,” he said.

That patience, he added, includes following up on every potential avenue — and eliminating those that don’t lead anywhere.

“Oftentimes in a criminal investigation, we still have to follow other avenues of investigation that could be possible,” he explained. “So a lot of the time it’s a process of elimination. By eliminating potentially fruitful investigative avenues that turn out to be nothing, then we can focus our time on those other things that might develop leads.”

Crews during the search. (submitted/ Saskatchewan RCMP)

Investigators have received hundreds of tips since Morin went missing. Graham said it’s a combination of witness accounts, canvassing, surveillance footage and Crime Stoppers tips that led police to conclude she was likely the victim of foul play.

“There’s no real reason for her to have vanished… this would be absolutely abnormal for her to not have been in contact with family,” he said.

While rain and storms could delay the river search, Graham said crews are prepared to adapt as conditions change.

Morin’s case is one of many involving missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls across Saskatchewan. But Graham said this one has remained a priority for the RCMP due to its lasting impact on the community — and the police force’s broader commitment to reconciliation.

“Oftentimes, the criticism is perhaps that we’re not putting forward those efforts,” he said. “But things like this, I’m hoping, will demonstrate to people that, no, we do put a priority on these investigations, and we do put the efforts forward.”

“We’re all part of the same community, and if we are pulled together, these kinds of things can be solved.”

For several years, Morin’s family has hosted a walk each July to raise awareness that she has still not been found. Recently, on May 5, her cousin, Angela Odgers, organized a candlelight vigil at Central Park for area Missing and Murdered Indigenous People to raise further awareness.

Ashley’s sister, Janine Morin, walks with a photo of her sister Ashley during the 6th annual walk in 2024. (Julia Lovett-Squired/battlefordsNOW)

RCMP continue to update Morin’s family and are again urging the public to come forward with any information.

“That could be something that they heard, something that they saw, something that they noticed…even if it was seven years ago, just those little things that people may remember or witnessed could be really important,” he said.

“Our job really is again to to compare different pieces of evidence to try and find that corroboration to develop the investigative theory as to what happened to her and obviously find her remains [and] get them back to her family.”

Information can be shared with RCMP at 310-RCMP, in person at the Battlefords detachment, or anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

As for the family’s current stance, Ashley’s sister, Janine Morin, shared in a Facebook post Monday that she hopes people can respect them during what she called a “very emotional” time. She added that “when the time is right,” the family will comment on the situation.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com