Young girl dies in possible bear attack at Garden Hill, Manitoba

Sources say the girl was Theresa Robinson from Garden Hill First Nation.

    

A northern Manitoba community is in shock after an 11-year-old girl was found dead, her body showing signs of a possible bear attack.

Teresa Robinson went missing on May 5. Her body was discovered six days later, on Monday.

David Harper, Grand Chief of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, said Robinson's remains were found near her Garden Hill First Nation home. He told that it appears the girl was mauled by an animal, and that a bear in the area could be the culprit.

"Bears were seen wandering there Tuesday night on the east side," he said. "It's just awful ... no one's heard of this happening before."

Investigators have yet to release an official cause of death for the girl. Harper said wild dogs also live in the area, and it could be up to 48 hours before it's clear exactly what killed Robinson.

In the meantime, First Nations leaders have already gathered in the community, and Harper plans to accompany Robinson's grandparents as they travel from Winnipeg to pay their respects.

A black bear is also suspected in the death of a camper in northern British Columbia this weekend. Daniel Ward Folland O'Connor fell asleep near a fire pit at a remote campsite near MacKenzie, B.C. His body was later found near a logging road, with injuries consistent with a black bear attack.