Manitoba experts address province’s missing persons crisis

Beverley Courchene fondly recalls her daughter, Leah Keeper, as a vibrant Anishinaabe woman with aspirations. Leah, a mother of two, was described as outgoing, with a passion for learning and a recent achievement in becoming a health care aide. Courchene emphasized that Leah was happy and fulfilled at that point in her life.

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Leah was very outgoing.

However, Courchene noted a shift as Leah became involved with a "wrong crowd" and struggled with addiction. Despite seeking treatment, she would relapse in Winnipeg. Courchene described this period as difficult, witnessing her daughter "go down that dark path" and become increasingly entangled in addiction.

The calls from Leah became infrequent, raising concerns for her mother. Leah was last seen on July 25, 2023, and was officially reported missing on November 21, 2023. This marked the beginning of a painful search, involving posters and community efforts.

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Her mindset was to always learn and experience different things.

In November 2025, partial human remains were discovered in a back alley, later confirmed by DNA testing to be Leah's. While this brought a measure of closure, Courchene expressed the accompanying pain, stating, "It gave us closure that she was found. I didn’t want her to be found deceased, but we take what get from the creator with our prayers."

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Things were good at that time of her life. She was happy. She was happy that she had this job, that she had reached her goal.

Leah Keeper was 32 years old when she went missing. Her homicide case remains under active investigation by the Winnipeg police, with no arrests made to date. Courchene continues to grieve her daughter, regardless of her age.

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She was always making excuses and falling deeper and deeper into addictions with people that she knew.