Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have ceased their search for the remaining parts of Mekhi Pelly’s body after two individuals were charged in connection with his murder. However, the family of the Kenora-area man is determined to continue their quest until all his remains are recovered.
Brian Pelly, the father of the 21-year-old who went missing on October 26, expressed his unwavering commitment to finding his son. Mekhi Pelly, also known as Mekhi Waters Pelly Scott, belonged to the Grassy Narrows First Nation and was last seen alive between October 10 and 12.
A 24-year-old man initially faced charges of indignity to a dead body on November 3, which were later upgraded to first-degree murder on November 14. On the same day, a 43-year-old woman from Kenora was charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder. Human remains discovered by the Kenora OPP’s emergency response team in the Washagamis Bay area on November 26 were confirmed through a post-mortem to belong to Pelly.
Despite this confirmation, Pelly’s family insists that since not all of his remains have been found, he is still considered missing. The ongoing investigation was described as extensive by OPP spokesperson Erin McCrea, who stated that there were no additional areas left to search.
Describing Mekhi as an outgoing individual who enjoyed basketball, technology, and spending time with loved ones, Brian Pelly highlighted the devastating impact of his son’s death on the family. The relentless search efforts have involved family members, community members, and volunteers scouring various locations for signs of Mekhi, with challenges arising due to limited resources and adverse weather conditions.
Seeking support for the search operation, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) emphasized the collaborative nature of search and rescue efforts involving multiple governmental and law enforcement agencies. While ISC may fund search and recovery operations for First Nation communities under certain circumstances, direct financial assistance from Canada’s Department of Justice is not provided to families of missing and murdered Indigenous individuals.
The investigation into Pelly’s disappearance and death is being led by Kenora OPP’s crime unit, with commendations for the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement units and Indigenous communities involved in the search. Brian Pelly urged for wider awareness of his son’s story and raised concerns about potential biases related to his Indigenous heritage in the handling of the case.
As the family continues their quest for answers, individuals with information regarding the case are encouraged to contact Kenora OPP or Crime Stoppers anonymously. Support services are available for anyone affected by issues surrounding missing and murdered Indigenous people through a national hotline offering immediate emotional assistance and crisis support around the clock.