Hamilton police have discovered partial human remains at a landfill during an ongoing search for missing woman Shalini Singh. Authorities believe the remains may belong to the 40-year-old, who was last heard from on December 4, 2024. Police are currently awaiting DNA confirmation, which could take several weeks.

Detective Sergeant Daryl Reid expressed cautious optimism about the findings. "The remains we have located are within the target zone for this investigation. So I am hopeful and optimistic that we will receive the DNA results that we are looking for," he stated during a news conference on Thursday.

The search for Singh began in February after the homicide unit took over the investigation. The remains were found on May 21 at the Glanbrook Landfill in Caledonia, Ontario. Reid noted that the news was difficult for Singh's family to hear but emphasized that it represents a crucial step toward finding answers. "It's also a first step in hopefully getting some answers for the family," he said.

Singh was reported missing by her family on December 10, just days after her last communication with her mother, Anita Singh. "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 recalled. The family attempted to contact her multiple times and visited her apartment in downtown Hamilton.

Following her disappearance, police located Singh's boyfriend, who had also been reported missing. He was found at a family member's home in the Halton region. However, police indicated that he has not been cooperative with the investigation. "He has provided no information that could assist in locating Shalini," police said.

The investigation has been extensive, involving a review of hundreds of hours of surveillance footage from Singh's apartment building. Detectives noted that there is no video evidence showing her leaving the building after December 4. They suspect that Singh may have been harmed inside her apartment and that her body was disposed of through the building's garbage system.

Police traced the garbage from the apartment building to the Kenora Waste Transfer Station, where they conducted a search on December 15. However, they found nothing, as the waste had already been moved to the Glanbrook landfill. The search operation at the landfill has been unprecedented for Hamilton police, lasting over 15 weeks and involving significant resources and coordination.

Superintendent Marty Schulenberg described the investigation as complex and resource-intensive. "This has demanded extraordinary coordination, planning, and effort across multiple teams and community partners," he said.

Singh is remembered by family and friends as a kind and intelligent individual who worked as a mental health crisis worker and volunteered in her community. Her mother described her as someone who "never stopped smiling" and was always eager to help others. The search for answers continues as police work to confirm the identity of the remains.