Manitoba RCMP are reporting that four individuals were recently located deceased approximately 40 feet from the US/Canada border. Work is underway to identify the victims and an autopsy has been scheduled to confirm the cause of death.
On the morning of January 19, 2022, RCMP officers with the Integrated Border Enforcement Team received concerning information from their counterparts in the United States.
Specifically, the information outlined that officers with the US Customs and Border Protection had apprehended a group of individuals who had crossed into the US from Canada, near the town of Emerson, Manitoba. Further, it indicated that one of the adults had items meant for an infant but that no infant was with the group.
Upon receiving this information at 9:23am, a search was immediately launched on both sides of the border.
RCMP officers were already patrolling the area and the search began at 9:24 am. Extensive patrols were conducted and, at approximately 1:30 pm, the bodies of three individuals were located on the Canadian side of the border, approximately 10 kilometres east of Emerson.
The bodies have been identified as an adult male, an adult female and an infant.
Fearing there may be additional victims, officers continued their search and located the body of an additional male, believed at this time to be in his mid-teens.
At this very early stage of the investigation, it appears that all victims died due to exposure to the cold weather.
The search for any possible survivors or additional victims continued throughout the evening of Wednesday, January 19, and RCMP officers continue to patrol the area today. To date, no other victims have been located.
RCMP will be conducting a thorough investigation and are working in close collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
All agencies are committed to a thorough and comprehensive investigation.
