Mounties in Alberta say they may be dealing with a serial killer after identifying human remains found on a rural property near Leduc earlier this year as those of Corrie Renee Ottenbreit.
Ottenbreit, an Edmonton sex trade worker, went missing in 2004.
The remains were discovered on April 19 and RCMP initially identified them as belonging to Delores Brower (pictured below), also a sex trade worker in Edmonton.
Today, however, RCMP said some of the remains belong to Ottenbreit.
Investigators said her identity was confirmed through DNA analysis of a hair sample she provided to Project KARE in December 2003. She provided the hair sample in the event she went missing.
Ottenbreit went missing on May 9, 2004, just one week before Brower.
"This is a very difficult time for the Ottenbreit family and our thoughts are with them today," said Inspector Stacey Talbot of the Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch in a press release.
"Sadly, they now know where Corrie is and now we need the public’s help in finding out what happened to her. We hope that someone out there can help us."
Talbot says given the proximity of the victims, police have not ruled out the possibility of a serial killer.
Ottenbreit's family issued a statement Tuesday.
"Corrie was a loving daughter, partner, sister and friend. Nothing can ever change that or the fond memories we have of our happy times together," they wrote.
"Our only hope now is that we will someday learn more about what lead to her disappearance and death. We ask anyone who has any information that could help the police to come forward."
Ottenbreit's and Browers' remains were found within eight kilometres of the remains previously found belonging to two other women, Katie Sylvia Ballantyne and Amber Tuccaro.
Ballantyne (above) was last seen April 28, 2003 and her remains were found July 7, 2003.
Tuccaro (above) was last seen August 18, 2010 and her remains were found Sept. 1, 2012.
Police say that the close proximity of the remains means they are investigating whether the crimes are linked and possibly committed by the same person.
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