Residents react to grisly discovery in Ste. Anne

In the woods near Lilac Resort, a mystery is unraveling. Steinbach RCMP removed human remains in a white bag Friday. They were found just 15 feet away from Lilac Lane near Lilac Resort off Highway 1 East.

It was a dog named Lucy who made the grisly discovery. Thursday evening, Lucy's owner noticed the dog had dragged something into the yard.

When he looked closely, he realized it was a human skull. He immediately called RCMP.

Neighbours in the area are shocked by the discovery.

"I was just surprised that anything like that would happen around here. It's such a little community, you don't expect things like that," said Barry, who only wanted his first name used.

The man who found the skull didn't want to be on camera, but tells Global News it looked very weathered, leaving him and his neighbours to believe that the remains have been there a long time.

"Christine Jack was last seen at the Ste. Anne bar," said neighbour Craig Ross.

Many residents here remember when 33-year-old Christine Jack went missing in 22 years ago, in December 1988.

"That was my first thought, Christine Jack, but who knows," said Barry.

At the time, the investigation led RCMP to search the area near Ste. Anne for her body but she was never found.

"That's just the only person that was not found and it was rumored to have been done in in this area," said Barry.

Jack's husband, former Blue Bomber Brian Jack was accused of her murder, but after three trials and numerous appeals, he walked free.

"It would be good for the family to get closure if it were her remains," said Ross.

But RCMP haven't confirmed the identity of the body, leaving area residents speculating.

"She's never been found, everybody wonders what happened, maybe someday we'll know," said Barry.

A post-mortem on the remains will be done on Monday.

RCMP continue to investigate.