Recovery of remains provides relief for family of Edmonton woman who vanished Christmas Eve

The sister of an Edmonton woman whose remains werefoundon the outskirts of the city Wednesday said the family has found relief in the grim discovery.

Billie Wynell Johnson, a 30-year-oldCree woman, vanished on Christmas Eve.

"It was probably the most relief that I've felt in my entire life," said Johnson's sister,Kiara Omeasoo.

She said the search for her sister felt like a nightmare.

"I lost a lot of sleep. I pushed so hard and made sure that wasn't left in the dark," Omeasoo said."I'm thankful for the outcome of everything but it took a long time."

Kenneth Courtorielle was arrested in Februaryand charged with second-degree murder in Johnson's disappearance and police saythere is now a charge ofindignity to a bodypending againstCourtorielle.

Johnsonwas in a relationship with Courtorielle, onemarked by violence, her family said.

Omeasoolearnedfrom police Thursday that her sister's remains had been found.

"My whole family was coming together and having ceremonies for her and praying for her, and I strongly believe that is why she was found."

Omeasoosaid she had recurring dreamsof Johnson after herdisappearancein which her sister appeared sad and pleadedto be found.

Two weeks ago, Omeasoo said, the dream changed with her sisterappearinghappy and speaking of a return home.

"I just knew in my heart that she was going to be found,"she said.

Family staged its own search

The familyhad been leading its own investigation, hiring a private investigator, plastering the citywith posters. They calledfor tips on social mediaand fed what information they gatheredto police.

The family also staged their own searches. With help from the Bear Clan Patrol, an Indigenous community watch group,they directed volunteers in scouringforests, ditches and farmers' fields on the outskirts of Edmonton.

"There were hundreds of people, people that we didn't even know, coming from all over ... and I want to thank them."

Omeasoo wonders if more searches led by officers, not volunteers, could have brought her sister home sooner. She said investigators rarely picked up the phone to updatethe family, not even when her remains were found.

"I honestly believe that if my sister wasn't Indigenous that she would have been found backin January," she said.

"I was very angry with the police all these months and weeks but I just bit my tongue."

A farewell feast

The last time Omeasoo spoke with her sister was Christmas Eve.Johnson was supposed to comeover for a family dinner, a tradition they had shared for years.

The family does not when the remains will be released by police but have started planning a memorial.

Omeasoo will send her sister home with a feast of roast turkey, pea soup and bannock.

It's the Christmas dinner she hadprepared, but never got to serve Johnson on the night she vanishedfour months ago.

"I can't wait to feed her and send her on her way. "

In a statement to CBC News Friday, Edmonton police spokesperson Cheryl Voordenhout saiddetectives were "incredibly committed" to the caseand thefamily was updated at every step.

"The investigative team worked tirelessly throughout the investigation to gather enough evidence to lay the charge of second-degree murder, despite not having recovered a body at that time.

"Detectives were personally committed to locating Billie's remains."

Police said details about where Johnson's remains were found will only be released after their search of the scene is concluded and the family is given time to privatelyvisit the site.

Johnsonleaves behind a daughter and son, ages four and 11.