“He had a heart of gold,” says Macgregor, describing her late 42-year-old son. “He would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He wasn’t without his problems, but he was a good man and a good father. I’m proud of him.”
It was on Mother’s Day 2017, that Lynn realized something was “terribly wrong” – she hadn’t received a call from Derek this time. She contacted the Edmonton Police Service and formally filed a Missing Person’s report.
“The EPS Missing Persons detectives were frequently in touch with us, and I still can’t express our gratitude to them for continually searching on our behalf,” she said.
“Our family was planning a family reunion on Vancouver Island for July of 2017, and Derek was excited about seeing some of the family he hadn’t seen for years. He was bringing two of his sons with him, so we were all thrilled about spending some quality family time together.”
It never happened.
In September 2017, Lynn received another telephone call, this time from EPS Homicide detectives. They had an anonymous, troubling tip regarding her son’s whereabouts.
“Detectives told me they had information that it may be our son who they discovered buried beneath a garage in Edmonton. It was really quite a shocking phone call, which left us all devastated,’ says Lynn.
“We waited three agonizing days for the autopsy results to prove that it was our beloved son Derek.”
Several months have since passed, and Derek’s remains have since been reunited with his parents, bringing them “some level of closure.”
Homicide detectives continue to investigate and search for information that will hopefully lead them to those responsible for Derek’s disturbing death.
Lynn remains hopeful that someone, somewhere, will understand the trauma she and her family continue to struggle with, and come forward to police, directly or anonymously.
“We are still waiting to know what actually happened to him,” she says. “We have felt pain and sorrow ever since, and miss him every day. He had three sons that are trying hard to cope with the loss of their father.
“We are grateful to the individual that came forth anonymously to lead EPS investigators to our son’s body. That allowed us to find Derek and bring him home to us, where he can now rest in peace.
“For the sake of Derek’s children, and for his family, we also need to know what happened to him – who did this to him. Please reach out to police and do the right thing.”
Anyone with information regarding Derek Winnig’s death or those responsible is urged to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.tipsubmit.com/start.htm.
Background:
The Edmonton Medical Examiner has confirmed the identity of human remains discovered buried beneath a garage at a northwest Edmonton home.
The human remains of Derek James Winnig, 42, were discovered buried beneath the floor of a garage on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, after police received information that led them to a residential address near 118 Avenue and 96 Street.
Winnig was reported missing to police in May of 2017. Investigators are treating the death as a homicide, and thus, have decided to release the identity and photo of the deceased (see below) for investigative reasons.
The cause of death, however, is not being released at this time again, for investigative reasons.
DEREK WINNIG, 42