Human remains that were found in a barn on a rural property in the Interlake have been identified as a toddler who was never reported missing and is believed to have been slain.
RCMP identified the child Friday as Xavia Skye Lynn Butler, who would have been about one to two years old when she died.
Her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Xavia Skye Lynn Butler (Supplied)
Xavia’s remains were found at a property just off Highway 6 in the Rural Municipality of Grahamdale on June 3.
The last time investigators were able to physically place her alive was about a year before she was found dead, said RCMP.
Police are seeking the public’s help to trace Xavia’s whereabouts during that time. They want to speak to anyone who saw the girl after March 2022.
RCMP confirmed a missing person report was not filed.
“We are looking for any photos taken of Xavia after March 2022,” RCMP major crime services investigator Cpl. Jill Slobodzian said in a news release.
“We are hoping those photos will have date and time stamps on them to help us build a better timeline of her life. We also ask anyone who physically saw Xavia after March 2022 to reach out to us as well, to provide that information.”
Police released a photo of Xavia as part of Friday’s appeal.
Anyone with information about the child or who has photos of her is asked to call an RCMP tip line at 431-489-8112.
In June, police said partial remains were found, and they believed the remains were discovered by animals and moved to the location where they were found by the property owners.
The property is located southwest of Gypsumville between a turn-off to the community and Provincial Road 328, about 250 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg.
The discovery led to a wider search of the area for additional remains.
A police dog and forensic anthropology team were involved in the search.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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