It’s been decades, but the name still makes people in British Columbia shiver. Robert Pickton. You’ve likely heard the basics—the pig farm in Port Coquitlam, the gruesome headlines, the trial that felt like it would never end. But honestly, the "monster" at the center of the story often takes up too much space. The real story isn't about him. It’s about the victims of Robert Pickton, the women who were ignored for far too long, and the families who are still fighting for a shred of justice in 2026.
People often ask: How many were there? The numbers are messy. Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder in 2007. Just six. Yet, he was charged with 20 more, and he famously bragged to an undercover cellmate about killing 49. When police sifted through the soil of that farm, they found the DNA or remains of 33 different women.
Think about that. Thirty-three lives reduced to forensic samples because the system didn't think they were worth looking for when they first disappeared.
The Six Names We Must Remember
When the trial finally happened, the court decided to split the charges into two groups to make the case "manageable." The first group consisted of six women. Because Pickton was sentenced to life with no chance of parole for 25 years on these counts, the government eventually stayed the other 20 charges. They said a second trial wouldn't add any more time to his sentence.
It was a "logical" legal move that felt like a slap in the face to the other families. Here are the six women whose cases defined the legal conviction:
- Sereena Abotsway: She was only 29. Sereena was known for her bright spirit and had been reported missing in 2001.
- Mona Wilson: A 26-year-old who vanished in late 2001. Her disappearance was one of the final catalysts that pushed the investigation forward.
- Andrea Joesbury: She was 26 and had a young daughter. Her family never stopped looking for her.
- Brenda Ann Wolfe: Disappeared in 1999. She was 32.
- Georgina Faith Papin: A mother of seven. Her sisters have become powerful voices for Indigenous women since her death.
- Marnie Frey: She went missing way back in 1997. It took five years for her family to get any answers at all.
Why Nobody Listened for Decades
You’ve gotta understand the context of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) in the 90s. It was—and in many ways still is—an area struggling with extreme poverty, addiction, and a lack of resources. The victims of Robert Pickton were mostly women working in the sex trade to survive.
Many were Indigenous.
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When families went to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) to report their daughters, sisters, or mothers missing, they were often brushed off. The "lifestyle" excuse was used constantly. Police suggested the women had just "moved away" or "gone on a binge."
Basically, the system viewed these women as disposable.
This wasn't just a hunch by the families. The 2012 Missing Women Commission of Inquiry, led by Wally Oppal, confirmed it. The report, titled Forsaken, was scathing. It detailed how systemic bias and a complete lack of communication between the VPD and the RCMP allowed Pickton to continue his spree for years.
There was actually a huge missed opportunity in 1997. Pickton attacked a woman named Wendy Lynn Eistetter on his farm. She fought back, stabbed him with his own knife, and escaped. Even though she survived and told police what happened, the charges against Pickton were stayed. Prosecutors thought she wasn't a "reliable" witness because of her addiction issues.
If they had listened to her then, dozens of women might still be alive today.
The Evidence That Haunted a Province
The search of the Pickton farm was the largest and most expensive crime scene investigation in Canadian history. We’re talking about $70 million. They literally used conveyor belts to sift through every inch of soil.
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What they found was nightmarish.
Beyond the DNA, investigators found personal items: bags, shoes, and jewelry. They found remains in freezers. The most horrific detail—one that still circulates in true crime circles—involved the possibility that human remains were processed through the farm's meat grinder and mixed with pork sold to the public. Health officials even had to issue a tainted meat advisory.
It’s the kind of detail that makes the stomach turn, but for the families, the horror was much more personal. They weren't just dealing with a "case"; they were dealing with the desecration of their loved ones.
The 20 Stayed Charges and the Unidentified
While the "official" number is six, the list of those whose DNA was found is much longer. Women like Tanya Holyk, Stephanie Lane, and Sarah de Vries are just as much a part of this tragedy.
In 2024, Robert Pickton died in a Quebec prison after being attacked by another inmate. For some, it was "jailhouse justice." For others, like Lorelei Williams (the cousin of Tanya Holyk), it felt like a final door closing on the truth.
There are still three unidentified DNA profiles from that farm. Imagine being a family member who has spent 25 years wondering if your loved one is one of those profiles.
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The Fight for the Evidence in 2026
Even now, the legal battle continues. Recently, the RCMP moved to destroy or return thousands of pieces of evidence from the investigation. They argue that storage is expensive and the case is closed since Pickton is dead.
The families are devastated.
They argue that with new DNA technology, those unidentified profiles could finally be named. They worry that destroying the evidence is just another way of "erasing" the women. Sarah Jean de Vries, whose sister Sarah was a victim, has been vocal about preserving these items for future civil suits and for the sake of history.
What We Can Do Now
The legacy of the victims of Robert Pickton isn't just a dark chapter in a history book. It’s a call to action. The violence against Indigenous women and those in the sex trade hasn't stopped; it's just changed shape.
If you want to honor the memory of these women, look into the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). Their "Calls for Justice" provide a roadmap for preventing this kind of systemic failure from happening again. Support organizations like WISH Drop-In Centre in Vancouver, which provides a safe space for women in the DTES—the very place where many of Pickton’s victims lived.
We can't change what happened on that farm in Port Coquitlam. But we can change how we treat the women who are still out there, living on the margins and waiting for someone to finally see them.
Next Steps for Advocacy and Awareness:
- Read the Executive Summary of the Forsaken report to understand the specific police failures.
- Support the REDress Project, which uses empty red dresses to symbolize missing and murdered Indigenous women.
- Advocate for the preservation of forensic evidence in "cold" or stayed cases, ensuring that advances in technology (like genetic genealogy) can be used to identify the remaining unknown victims.
- Follow the work of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) regarding current updates on the Pickton evidence disposal cases.