Police probe homicide in girl’s death originally attributed to mauling

WINNIPEG — The death of an 11-year-old girl on Garden Hill First Nation earlier this month is being investigated as a homicide, Manitoba RCMP say.

READ MORE: Manitoba girl found dead, may have been mauled: chief

Community members originally said it appeared a bear had mauled Teresa Robinson, who was missing for six days before her body was found on Tuesday. Police were tight-lipped about her death and said an autopsy was being performed to determine the cause of death.

READ MORE: RCMP say cause of Garden Hill girl’s death still unconfirmed

Aspects of the autopsy, which started Thursday, are continuing and a positive identification has yet to be made, police said Friday. However, police said they and the community believe it’s Robinson. Police aren’t releasing details of the autopsy or the cause of death.

Robinson’s remains were disturbed by animals, but there is no evidence to suggest animals played a role in her death, RCMP said in a news release.