Police identify toddler whose remains were found on Manitoba Interlake property in June - Action News
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Manitoba

Police identify toddler whose remains were found on Manitoba Interlake property in June

The woman who took upcaring for atoddler since she was bornis looking for answersas Manitoba RCMP confirm remains found inside a barn in the Interlake region belonged to the girl.

Xavia Skye Lynn Butler's death being investigated as a homicide, RCMP say

A toddler smiling
Gypsumville RCMP said in a news release Friday remainsdiscovered in a barn off Highway 6 in the rural municipality of Grahamdale last June belonged to Xavia Skye Lynn Butler. (Submitted by Natalie Anderson)

The woman who took upcaring for atoddler since she was bornis looking for answersas Manitoba RCMP confirm remains found inside a barn in the Interlake region belonged to the girl.

Natalie Anderson says she wants justice after police announced the death ofXavia Skye Lynn Butler is being investigated as a homicide.

Gypsumville RCMP said in a news release Friday remainsdiscovered in a barn off Highway 6 in the rural municipality of GrahamdaleinJune belonged to the toddler, who would have been one or two years old at the time of her death.

The toddler, fromPinaymootang First Nation, was never reported missing. She would have turned threethe same month she was discovered.

In an email, the RCMP saidthe child had been living with her biological family at a home neighbouring the barn.

Anderson said she and Xavia's biological mother her cousin had an informal arrangement that she would raise the child, but that eventually her cousin changed her mind.

A woman holding up a phone with a black-and-white picture of her and a baby.
Natalie Anderson says she wants justice after police announced Xavia's death is being investigated as a homicide. Anderson said she had an informal arrangement with Xavia's biological mom that she would raise the girl. ( Jaison Empson/CBC)

Child and Family Services got involved, and took the child on March 17, 2022, Anderson said, the last time she saw Xavia in person.

"It hurt. It killed me. It crushed me," she said. "I got her dressed, I put on her snow suit and I told her that she was just going for a car ride, that mommy would be here waiting for her."

The last time police were able to physically place Xavia was about a year before she was found dead,and they are asking the public for tips to clarify her whereabouts after that.

'It angers me as a human being'

Investigators are now looking for any photos taken of Xavia after March 2022. They hopeto get images with dates and time stampson them in order to build a better understanding of the toddler's life, the RCMP said in the release.

Anderson said she saw Xaviaalmost daily in video chats, but that these became less frequent until she lost all communication. Neither she or others in her familyhad any luck when they tried to check up on her, Anderson said.

An infant girl with hair in space buns sits on a couch and smiles, with a basketball on her lap.
Xavia Skye Lynn Butler would have been one or two at the time of her death, police say. (Submitted by RCMP)

Anderson said her sister reached out to CFSso they would check on her, but that she doesn't know whether they follow through even if there were red flags.

"It's frustrating. It angers me as a human being," she said."I mean, come on, how is it not obvious that something's going on, something's wrong?"

The RCMP said Xaviawas not in CFS care at the time when she is believed to have died, but wouldn't confirm or deny any CFS involvement prior to her death.

"Theyhad no reason to take her from me," she said, adding that the agency had never been involved in the girl's life while she was in her care.

"She was always happy, always clean, fed. She knew what love was."

Anderson said she learned about the child's death on June 6, three days after the RCMP announced the discovery.

RCMP asking people to come forward

Police are asking anyonewho may have seen Xavia after March 2022 to come forward.

Anyone with information or photos to share is asked to call the RCMP's major crime services tip line at 431-489-8112.

In an unrelated news conference Friday afternoon, Premier Wab Kinewencouraged people who may have any information as to what happened to reach out to police, to ensure that "ensure there is accountability."

A woman and a toddler
Xavia 'was always happy, always clean, fed,' Anderson said. 'She knew what love was.' (Submitted by Natalie Anderson)

"This is one of the worst things that can happen, bar none," he said. "When something like this happens in Manitoba, it makes you stop and take stock of what is happening across this land."

The premier added that, as the police investigation unfolds, the province will be considering how to prevent incidents like this from happening again.

Calls for justice

The barn where Xavia's remains were found was painted orange a month after the discovery.

Natascha Kitchur, who owns the property, said her family and several volunteers worked on the project, using materials donated by people in the surrounding communities.

An orange barn with planks bearing handprints, as well as some toys hanging on its faade
The barn where Xavia's remains were found was painted orange a month after the discovery to serve as a memorial for the toddler. (Submitted by Natascha Kitchur)

Kitchur said in a statement the familywanted it to serve as a memorial for Xavia, and as a symbol for all others who have been lost.

The barn "has also come to embody a larger call for justice and healing for all who are missing or have been murdered," Kitchur said in a statement Friday.

A barn painted orange with the words 'Every Child Matters' painted onto the rooftop
The barn has 'come to embody a larger call for justice and healing for all who are missing or have been murdered,' Natascha Kitchur said in a statement. (Submitted by Natascha Kitchur)

Anderson saidthat while she was not Xavia's biological mom, the toddler was her daughter.

"I raised her. She was mine. That's my baby." Anderson said.