Saskatoon's Century-Old 'Woman in the Well' Mystery Solved: Alice Spence Identified

The chilling mystery that has haunted Saskatoon for a century, the case of the 'woman in the well,' has finally been brought into the light. Through a remarkable convergence of dedicated police work, cutting-edge genetic genealogy, and the enduring hope of a family, the identity of the woman found in a forgotten well in 1923 has been revealed: she was Alice Spence.

For generations, the discovery of skeletal remains in an abandoned well near the Grand Trunk Railway line cast a long, cold shadow over the city.

Initially ruled a suicide by authorities in 1923, many, including the police at the time, harbored deep suspicions of foul play. The true story of this unknown woman remained trapped in time, a silent testament to a life abruptly ended and a justice long delayed.

The breakthrough came courtesy of the Saskatoon Police Service Cold Case Unit, collaborating with the exceptional minds at Redgrave Research Forensic Services and the DNA Doe Project.

Utilizing a tiny bone fragment, modern DNA technology allowed them to construct a genetic profile. This profile was then uploaded to public genealogy databases, a meticulous process that led them to potential relatives and, ultimately, to Alice Spence.

Alice Spence was more than just a victim; she was a vibrant young Cree woman, born in 1899, the daughter of John Spence, a respected Treaty 6 Chief from the Muscowequan First Nation.

Her life, though tragically cut short, was rich with connections. She was a mother to two children, Agnes and Annie. Like many Indigenous children of her era, she was a survivor of the residential school system, an experience that undoubtedly shaped her life.

The identification brought profound closure, and a new layer of grief, to Alice's living descendants.

Her great-granddaughter, Patricia Bell, and great-great-granddaughter, Jennifer Bill, provided DNA samples that confirmed the match, linking them irrevocably to a great-grandmother they never knew but whose story they now carry. For them, this isn't just a historical footnote; it's a deeply personal connection to a stolen past.

While Alice's identity is now known, the mystery of how she came to be in that well persists.

The official cause of death remains "undetermined," yet her family firmly believes she was murdered. The Saskatoon Police Service has unequivocally stated that the investigation is far from over. With a name now attached to the case, detectives are actively pursuing new avenues, hoping to piece together Alice's final days and, perhaps, bring charges against those responsible, even after a century.

This remarkable resolution serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring dedication of cold case investigators and the transformative potential of genetic genealogy.

More profoundly, it shines a crucial light on the historical injustices faced by Indigenous women, offering not just a name but a voice to those long silenced. Alice Spence’s story is no longer a nameless tragedy; it is a call for justice, echoed across a hundred years, finally heard.