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

The woman who took up caring for a toddler since she was born is looking for answers as 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 of Xavia Skye Lynn Butler is being investigated as a homicide.

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

The toddler, from Pinaymootang First Nation, was never reported missing. She would have turned three the same month she was discovered.

In an email, the RCMP said the 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.

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 hope to get images with dates and time stamps on them in order to build a better understanding of the toddler's life, the RCMP said in the release.

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

Anderson said her sister reached out to CFS so 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 Xavia was 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.

"They had 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 anyone who 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 Kinew encouraged people who may have any information as to what happened to reach out to police, to ensure that "ensure there is accountability."

"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.

Kitchur said in a statement the family wanted 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.

Anderson said that 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.