REGINA – A century-old mystery has been unraveled as police have identified a woman whose body was discovered in a well in Saskatchewan. The victim, known for nearly two decades as “the woman in the well,” was confirmed to be Alice Spence, thanks to DNA samples provided by her great-granddaughter, Cindy Camp, and her daughters.
The investigation began when Camp received a call from authorities, informing her that her great-grandmother had likely been murdered over 105 years ago. “I was stunned, in disbelief,” Camp recounted in a phone interview from her home in Sherwood Park, Alberta. She noted that her father had no knowledge of Spence, nor did his mother ever discuss her.
The woman”s remains were uncovered in 2006 during an excavation at a service station in Saskatoon, where they had been preserved in a barrel filled with a mixture of water and gasoline. Investigators found her body wrapped in burlap along with clothing items such as a fitted jacket, a high-collared blouse, and a long skirt, alongside a broken golden necklace and a man”s vest.
An autopsy suggested she had met with foul play, prompting a homicide investigation. According to Sgt. Darren Funk of the Saskatoon police, the case is believed to be the oldest in Canada solved through investigative genetic genealogy.
Through years of analysis, investigators crafted genealogy charts and located distant relatives across the United States and Europe. Despite their efforts and the creation of facial reconstructions, solid leads were scarce until early this year when Sgt. Funk revisited the case. He found additional relatives and sought their cooperation.
Funk”s breakthrough came after attending a course on historical death investigations. He learned about the successful application of genetic genealogy in other cases, which inspired a collaboration with a Toronto genealogy expert. This partnership soon yielded the name Alice Burke, leading to the discovery of her marriage to Charles Spence and their residence in Saskatoon during 1913 and 1914.
Despite the significant findings, there were no missing person reports or photographs of her. Following a fire in 1918 that destroyed the family home, no records remained. Camp expressed her desire to speak with her grandmother about the family”s history, particularly regarding the tragic fate of her great-grandmother.
The news of Spence”s murder has deeply affected Camp. “I can”t imagine anybody doing that to someone. It just breaks my heart,” she shared. In a poignant gesture, she has ordered a headstone for Spence”s unmarked grave in Saskatoon, emphasizing the importance of recognizing family history.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 19, 2025.
