Landfill search for missing Hamilton woman Shalini Singh extended 2 weeks, police say
Search of Glanbrook landfill began in February after Singh was reported missing Dec. 10
The search through a Hamilton landfill for the remains of missing woman Shalini Singh will be extended by two weeks, says the lead detective.
Investigators began combing through the Glanbrook site in late February and planned to do so until April 18, said Det. Sgt. Daryl Reid in a video update Thursday.
He said they've extended the search by two more weeks.
"We remain committed to finding Shalini and providing answers to her family and loved ones," Reid said.
Singh's family last heard from her on Dec. 4 and reported her missing to police days later. Based on concerning information initially gathered, the homicide unit took over the investigation early on.
"Evidence suggests she may have been met with foul play inside her apartment and later removed from the building through the garbage disposal system," Reid said.
Singh's mother Anita Singh told CBC Hamilton in February that her daughter, 40, sounded upset during their last phone call.
"She just kept saying, 'I love you, mom, I love you mom, I love you, mom.' And I said, 'What's the matter with you, Shalini? Are you all right?'" Anita said. "And she hung up all of a sudden."
In the days following her disappearance, police tracked down Shalini's boyfriend, who she lived with. As of late February, her boyfriend hadn't co-operated with the investigation, police said. Investigators have declined to say if he's a suspect or person of interest, and have not released his name.
Singh worked in mental health
Police have reviewed hundreds of hours of video footage from Singh's downtown apartment building, which they said she was not seen leaving after Dec. 4.
Detectives traced the building's garbage to Hamilton's Kenora Waste Transfer Station, which they searched on Dec. 15, Reid said at a news conference in February. Nothing was located there, as the garbage from the apartment building had already been moved to the Glanbrook landfill.
There's an area at the Glanbrook site, about 800 square metres, that police are focused on.
"Hamilton police will continue to evaluate if further extensions are required," the service said in a statement Thursday.
Singh's family declined to comment at this time.
Her family says she was intelligent, cheerful and kind — the type of person who is eager to help anyone who needs it. She was working as a mental health crisis worker in the Halton region for the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Anyone with information about Singh's whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
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