Sex assault victim's mom issues warning

The mother of a six-year-old Winnipeg girl who was sexually assaulted on the long weekend says the girl was lured away from a Spence Neighbourhood playground and taken to a home where she was attacked.  

While police continue to investigate the Sunday incident, the girl's mother spoke out on Tuesday to warn other parents to keep a close eye on their children.

"You can't trust the park anymore these days … My children want to go out to play again but knowing they're there — what if he's standing there?" she said.

"I'm not even letting them out the door."

She said her daughter was playing with her older brothers at the playground at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre at Ellice Avenue and Langside Street when she was approached by a man at about 9:30 p.m. CT.

The mother said her daughter told her a man led her from the play area to a nearby home where he attacked her.

A police spokesman described the assault as a "horrific incident."

The mother said the girl's siblings, who are between eight and 12 years old, took their eyes off her for only a moment before realizing she was gone. 

'You can't trust the park anymore these days.' —Mother of girl who was sexually assaulted

The mother said they immediately began searching the area but the girl didn't reappear at the playground until about 10 p.m.

She looked disheveled and was missing a shoe.

"She was crying and she told me what happened and I called 911 immediately," the mother said.  

The girl said the assault happened indoors at a home in the area.

Police have not yet announced any arrests.

The mother said she now wants to move her family from the area because she is concerned the culprit knows where she and her children live.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact investigators at 986-6868 or Crime Stoppers at 786-8477.