Search for Mackenzie Trottier begins at Saskatoon landfill

Staff Sergeant Corey Lenius Saskatoon Police Service

Today marks the beginning of an extensive, 33-day search for the body of 22-year-old Mackenzie Lee Trottier, which will be taking place at the Saskatoon landfill. Trottier was last seen in the 300 block of Trent Crescent on December 21, 2020.

Saskatoon Police Service Staff Sergeant Corey Lenius says based on evidence collected from electronic devices during the investigation, and tracking the GPS coordinates of certain garbage trucks, the SPS has marked off an area of interest that is about 930 cubic metres in size and one metre deep. “In that layer of interest, we will be removing all the contents. It will be brought down to just behind our tent here, where it will be spread out and searched meticulously by our search team and dogs,” he explains. “Any items of interest will go into the tent for further examination.”

The purpose-trained cadaver dogs were brought in from the Calgary Police Service. “Each day we have 14 officers plus two canine dogs. That will rotate through, so tomorrow there will be 14 new searchers, but every day there will be 14 searchers plus the two canine operators and dogs.” Lenius says this landfill search differs greatly from the ones SPS has previously conducted, as any evidence found will be from nearly four years ago and could be severely deteriorated. “It’s hard to say what condition anything that we’re searching for could be in at this point based on the time that’s passed, based on all the environmental issues, and the work process that the landfill operates on.”

Paul Trottier, Mackenzie’s father, says the search is about his daughter, but it’s also about bringing the topic of missing people into the light. “It’s one of those things that nobody really wants to talk about. You don’t talk about it in social situations. You don’t bring it up. It’s uncomfortable. It’s hard, but it’s a part of what’s going on. We have to do something. We have to say something.” Paul stammered through tears, “Mackenzie, we love you, and we miss you deeply.”

Updates will be provided to the public as they arise, as the SPS intends to remain transparent about the investigation. Transportation Canada has declared the area a no-flight zone, with a 1000-foot ceiling and two nautical mile radius surrounding the landfill. Within that zone, private drones and civilian aircraft are prohibited. The restriction will be lifted on June 4th.