ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES

While researching MMIWG2 cases, Wolf often thinks about victims like Amanda Jane Cook.

Cook, a 14-year-old from Rossburn, Manitoba, Canada, was reported missing by her family July 13, 1996. Her remains were discovered four days later in a nearby wooded area.

Although Cook’s killer was apprehended and admitted to the killing, he was found not guilty due to evidence deemed inadmissible in court. According to Wolf, many of these cases fail because of legal technicalities.

“The more you read about some of these stories, you start to feel a little helpless,” Wolf said.

Wolf and Briggs-Mathers begin by researching the facts of each known and reported case, reviewing information from news sources or the investigative party. They then enter all non-personal data into their file so that similarities between cases can be studied.

“We aren’t trying to reach out to families or solve cases with this project,” said Briggs-Mathers. “We want to show how big this problem is and give investigators all of the information we can to help them solve the cases.”