WINNIPEG — Manitoba RCMP say they haven't ruled out homicide in the death of an 11-year-old girl on a remote northern reserve.
Chief Supt. Scott Kolody said Wednesday that officers were in Garden Hill and continued to investigate Teresa Robinson's death. Initial reports suggested the girl might have been mauled by a wild animal, but Kolody said police don't know the cause of death yet.
"We appreciate that everyone wants to know what happened to this little child and so do we," he said at a new conference in Winnipeg. "Finding out what happened to Teresa is our first priority."
An autopsy was being conducted which could shed light on how the girl died, he said.
Robinson disappeared last week after leaving a birthday party on the reserve. Her body was found by searchers on Monday, along with a bracelet nearby.
At first, the family thought Robinson may have slept over at a friend's place, but she didn't show up at school and a search was launched.
The girl's family — and the larger community — is heartbroken, Kolody said.
"What they are going through at this time is unimaginable and they have our sincere condolences," he said. "In that community, (Robinson) is cherished. I would tell you this is a tragic loss in so many ways."
