05/30/2026
The Unsolved Murder of Mary Ann Birmingham
Mary Ann Birmingham was a 15-year-old Inuk girl who was brutally murdered in her home in Iqaluit (then Frobisher Bay) on May 26, 1986. Her death remained one of Canada’s most high-profile cold cases for nearly four decades until a significant breakthrough in late 2024.
In September 2024, the Nunavut RCMP arrested Jopey Atsiqtaq in Ottawa and charged him with second-degree murder in connection with Birmingham's death. Atsiqtaq, who is now in his 60s, was on day parole at the time of his arrest for the 1986 murders of two other Iqaluit residents.
Jopey Atsiqtaq’s trial for the 1986 murder of Mary Ann Birmingham is expected to begin in early 2027.
This is the second time Atsiqtaq has been charged with her murder - the original charges laid shortly after the 1986 crime were dismissed following a preliminary inquiry due to insufficient evidence. Currently, Atsiqtaq is facing a charge of second-degree murder.
As of July 22, 2025, Atsiqtaq was denied bail and remains in custody. Atsiqtaq remains in remand at the Aaqqigiarvik Correctional Healing Facility in Iqaluit. In October 2025, a Nunavut judge indicated that a trial is expected to be scheduled for early 2027, as court dockets for 2026 were already full. A court date was scheduled for February 5, 2026. Since late 2025, Atsiqtaq has had several administrative court dates to manage the "very complex" nature of the case, which defense lawyers estimate could require a two-month trial. Previous administrative appearances occurred on December 2, 2025, and February 11, 2025. Specific evidence presented during his 2025 bail hearings remains under a publication ban, limiting the details available to the public before the trial.
Mary Ann’s body was found by her sister, Barbara Sevigny, who had returned home while the rest of the family was in Montreal for a brother’s medical treatment. Her death became a symbol for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement. Her sister, Elisapee Sheutiapik, a former mayor of Iqaluit and Nunavut MLA, has been a prominent advocate for justice in the case. Family and friends describe Mary Ann as a "bubbly" and talented girl who won poetry and art contests in elementary school.
Sources: CBC, Nunatsiaq