Human remains identified as missing woman

RCMP say human remains they discovered in the RM of Portage la Prairie belong to a woman who was last seen in May.

Late in the evening of September 3 at 11:30 p.m., Manitoba First Nation Police Service officers were told that there was possible human remains in the RM of Portage la Prairie.

Calling Manitoba RCMP officers, Major Crimes Services joined the team near Cottonwood Drive.

After investigating, police say the remains belong to a 36-year-old woman who went missing in May. On July 10, the Winnipeg Police Service received a report that Tamara (Norman) Benoit was missing and was last seen around Portage la Prairie and Long Plain First Nation.

Her death is being investigated as a homicide by the Portage RCMP Detachment, RCMP Major Crime Services, Manitoba First Nation Police Service, Winnipeg Police Missing Persons Unit, Forensic Identification Services, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Benoit was reported missing to Winnipeg Police Service on July 10, 2020. She was last seen in May 2020, around Portage la Prairie and Long Plain First Nation.

RCMP investigators are looking for information regarding Benoit's whereabouts since she was last heard from in May. Those with information are asked to call the RCMP Major Crime Services Tip Line at 1-888-673-3316.