Police say the remains of a Winnipeg grandmother who went missing in July of 2015 have been found in a remote location in the Rural Municipality of Tache.

The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) issued an update today, saying Steinbach RCMP launched an investigation on Oct. 27, 2018 after receiving a report about a possible discovery of human remains. After DNA testing, the remains were positively identified as Thelma Krull, the 57-year-old grandmother who went missing while on a walk in Winnipeg's East Kildonan neighbourhood near Valley Gardens over three years ago. 

Police previously said they believed she was assaulted and forcibly removed from the area. They are now saying, given the location of her remains, the suspect had access to a vehicle and likely has some kind of connection to the area. 

"I think it's a location where hunters will go," WPS Sgt. Wes Rommel said. "We think the location is very significant and in terms of a connection to the suspect that is a possibility. I think it's a significant piece of the investigation and we want the public to think about how this individual may be familiar with that area and that specific location."  

Police are reiterating their call for tips and say any information, no matter how small it seems, could be helpful. 

"We've been waiting for a break in the investigation after gathering tips and information over the last three and a half years," Rommel said. "Now when you find where she's been placed, it's another link to the suspect. It's not random, it's that location for a reason, and now it's a matter of figuring out what that is." 

Rommel says while the suspect is still out there, he hopes this discovery can bring some form of closure to Thelma's family as police continue to search. 

"We hope this will move towards some answers to figure out what happened," Rommel said. "As much as it's a negative result, I am glad for the family that they have some finality in terms of no longer wondering where she is." 

Rommel says police have received more than 450 tips in the time since Thelma went missing and they always welcome more. He says specifically they are asking people who live in the RM of Tache to report anything they may recall from the summer of 2015 that was suspicious. 

People with tips and information can call the WPS Homicide Unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-TIPS (8477).