stories of the year: arrests made, megan gallagher's remains found

two days earlier, she visited her father brian and sat on his front lawn, playing with the family’s dog. two months later, a photo taken in that moment would appear on a billboard and poster campaign seeking information about her disappearance.

megan gallagher’s family put up a billboard at idylwyld drive and 20th street asking for information on her location. megan was last seen sept. 18, 2020. photo taken in saskatoon on dec. 1, 2020. matt smith / saskatoon starphoenix

megan’s family has tirelessly advocated for her and other missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2slgbtqqia+ people in the province. they’ve held annual walks for megan, attended events and supported other families . her sister, lindsey bishop, joined advocate krista fox and ashley morin’s mother diane on a cross-country journey to raise awareness.

a group of her loved ones has diligently observed each court appearance for the nine accused.

brian gallagher hugs friends and family members outside the saskatoon provincial courthouse, where a man charged with offering an indignity to human remains in connection with the death of megan michelle gallagher, who disappeared in saskatoon in september 2020, made his first court appearance on june 2, 2022. michelle berg / saskatoon starphoenix

brian said his daughter “was so much more than this case.” he described her as an amazing mother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, aunt and friend. he said she was always there for someone in need, offering a hug, a laugh, a ride, a kind word, food, a cigarette or just company.

ernest vernon whitehead was arrested and warrants issued for three other people — all of them charged with offering an indignity to human remains.

on sept. 18, 2022, gallagher’s family and the community gathered again for megan’s walk. police laid the first first-degree murder charge in megan’s death two days later; robert “bobby” thomas was picked up in prince george, b.c.

a group walks along highway 16 toward saskatoon to raise awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women, girls and 2slgbtqia+ people. the cross-country journey was begun in victoria, b.c. by saskatchewan residents lindsey bishop and krista fox. bishop’s sister megan gallagher was last seen in saskatoon in september 2020 while fox’s niece, ashley morin, was last seen in north battleford in 2018. photo taken in saskatoon on april 8, 2022. matt smith / saskatoon starphoenix

cheyann crystal peeteetuce is charged with first-degree murder. thomas richard sutherland and robin tyler john are charged with unlawful confinement and aggravated assault. summer-sky henry was the last to be charged, with first-degree murder .

brian has said he does not know if his daughter knew any of the people charged, or if megan’s death was targeted or random. in the midst of the arrests, police conducted a search of the south saskatchewan river area near st. louis. human remains were found on the first day, and later confirmed to be gallagher’s .