Saskatoon police locate human remains while on search for missing Megan Gallagher

Teams searching for a Saskatoon woman who has been missing for two years have located human remains, though the identity of the deceased has not been confirmed.

Megan Gallagher, 30, was last seen leaving her friend's house in Saskatoon on Sept. 19, 2020. Her family has been searching for answers to her whereabouts ever since and eight people have been charged in relation to her disappearance — two of whom were charged with first-degree murder.

On Thursday, police began searching the South Saskatchewan River in what was set to be a four-day endeavour.

At about 2:30 p.m. CST on Thursday, searchers examining the river near St. Louis, a community located about 100 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, found human remains.

The human remains still have to be identified, police said.

A Saskatoon police forensic team is processing the scene and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service has been notified.

Police said earlier Thursday that about 50 searchers would be checking the shoreline and landscape near the village during the four-day effort.

"I'm confident that the area we're focusing on is the area we know we have the most likely chance of some success," said Staff Sgt. Grant Obst with the major crimes unit.

"The working theory of the investigation has indicated the murder occurred in Saskatoon, the disposal of the body occurred in the area that we're going to be searching."

In a news release late Thursday afternoon, police said the search included civilian search and rescue volunteers, the major crimes unit, members of the provincial protective services and a K-9 unit with the Calgary Police Service.

Gallagher's family has been vocal about support to find their missing daughter, including hosting two annual walks to bring awareness to her disappearance.

The announcement comes on the same day police charged an eighth suspect in Gallagher's disappearance two years ago.

The latest suspect to be charged is Robin Tyler John, 34, who has been serving a sentence at a correctional facility on the Beardy's and Okemasis's Cree Nation. He's now been transferred to a cell in Saskatoon.

John, who is charged with unlawful confinement and aggravated assault, is the second suspect in the Gallagher case also connected with a high-profile, fatal, impaired crash in Saskatoon.

He pleaded guilty in 2014 to impaired driving causing death in the collision that killed Saskatoon teen Quinn Stevenson. Stevenson had graduated from Centennial High School in 2013 when a car driven by John plowed into Stevenson's car while he was on his way to work.

John was sentenced to two years in prison and two years probation, and given a three-year driving ban.

Cheyann Peeteetuce, 29, who is charged with first-degree murder in Gallagher's presumed death, killed two teenagers in a crash in 2014. Police said she was impaired at the time and drove a stolen truck through a stop sign, hitting another vehicle. She pleaded guilty in 2015 to two counts of dangerous driving causing death.

The crash killed J.P. Haughey, 17, and his passenger, Sarah Wensley, 17. A third girl in the vehicle survived.

Obst says police anticipate more arrests and charges in the Gallagher case.