A months-long investigation into the disappearance of Hamilton woman Shalini Singh has led to a grim conclusion, as police confirmed Monday that her common-law partner has been charged with second-degree murder following the discovery of her remains at a local landfill.
Hamilton Police announced that 42-year-old Jeffrey Smith of Burlington, Singh’s partner, was arrested without incident on Friday after DNA analysis linked partial human remains—found at the Glanbrook Landfill in May—to the 40-year-old woman. He is now facing charges of second-degree murder and indignity to human remains.
Singh was last in contact with her family on the evening of December 4, 2024, and was reported missing six days later. The case was quickly escalated to the homicide unit after police uncovered what they described as “emerging evidence” that raised serious concerns for her safety.
Detective Sergeant Daryl Reid told reporters that surveillance footage from Singh’s apartment building confirmed she returned to her unit on the night she vanished but was never seen exiting. Investigators believe she was killed sometime between the evening of December 4 and the early hours of December 5.
Reid previously revealed that police suspected Singh’s body may have been removed from the building via the garbage disposal system. By analyzing GPS data, investigators were able to narrow their search at the Glanbrook Landfill and began combing through the site in February.
After months of sifting through thousands of cubic metres of waste, police located human remains last month. DNA results confirmed on Friday that they belonged to Singh, allowing police to move forward with the arrest of Smith.
“This is not only about resolving an investigation but about giving answers to a family who have waited a very long time,” Reid said. “And even though they have waited this long, the confirmation still comes as a shock.”
Police expect to conclude their search at the landfill site later this week, although Reid noted the heat and conditions have made the process grueling.
The case has deeply shaken the community and left Singh’s loved ones in mourning. Hamilton Police are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.