Arrest in homicide of 11-year old girl

The RCMP  released details today of an arrest they made in connection with the death of an 11-year-old girl that once again put the national spotlight on the problem of missing or murdered indigenous women.

The remains of Teresa Robinson were found last May, six days after she was last seen leaving a birthday party. The Mounties say a 15-year-old boy has been taken into custody on the Garden Hill reserve, a remote fly-in community, where Robinson lived.  He has been charged with first degree murder.  Investigators won’t reveal details but call the girl’s murder “absolutely senseless and horrific.”

It was originally thought the 11 year old was killed by a bear, but police soon ruled her death a homicide.

Last month the RCMP asked about 2000 reserve males between 15 and 66 to volunteer samples of their DNA. Indigenous leaders have been briefed on the arrest.