A 17-year-old teen has been charged with attempted murder and sexual assault with a weapon of a person under 16 years old in an attack on a child police had initially suspected was from an animal, the Ontario Provincial Police say.
An eight-year-old girl was reported missing on June 23, in Quadeville, southeast of Barry’s Bay and about 170 km away from Ottawa.
She was found shortly after midnight the following morning with life-threatening injuries. Police said Thursday it was a “miracle” she has survived.
At the time, police had warned parents near the rural eastern Ontario town to “keep children indoors or under close supervision.”
“While early evidence suggested a possible animal attack, investigators did not rule out human involvement,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a Wednesday media release.
“While the incident is still under investigation, recent testing of samples taken from the victim’s wounds has now revealed no traces of animal DNA.”
The young girl remains under medical care.
Police say the 17-year-old suspect, who cannot be legally identified because he is a minor, was arrested and charged on Tuesday and remains in custody pending a court appearance.
Police have scheduled a town hall meeting in Quadeville for Saturday, July 12, to address questions and concerns from the community. Details of the time and place of the event have yet to be determined.
Anyone with information or relevant video is asked to contact the OPP’s Upper Ottawa Valley detachment at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.
— With files from Global News’ Gabby Rodrigues