Family of four, believed to be Indians, frozen to death along US-Canada border

Toronto

In a heartbreaking tragedy, a family of four, including ababy, all believed to be Indians, has died from exposure to cold weather on theCanadian side of the border with the US in an apparent human smugglingoperation, according to media reports.

Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursdaysaid that the bodies of four people two adults, a teen and an infant were foundon the Canadian side of the U.S./Canada border near Emerson on Wednesday.

US officials say the dead are believed to be a family fromIndia. They are thought to have been attempting to cross into the US, accordingto media reports. RCMP Assistant Commissioner Jane MacLatchy shared thediscovery with reporters in a news conference on Thursday.

"What I am about to share is going to be difficult formany people to hear," she said, calling it "an absolute andheartbreaking tragedy".

"At this very early stage of the investigation, itappears that they all died due to exposure to the cold weather," MacLatchysaid, adding RCMP believe the four people are connected to the group that wasapprehended on the U.S. side of the border.

She said all four were located within 9-12 metres of theborder. MacLatchy said that the group was "on their own in the middle of ablizzard" and "faced not only the cold weather but endless fields,large snowdrifts and complete darkness".

Police are referring to them as victims, as there areconcerns the group's attempted border crossing was facilitated in some way, andthat they were left out in the extreme cold, Global News reported.

MacLatchy said work is underway to ID the victims, but atthis stage, it appears they all died from exposure to the cold, the report said.Manitoba RCMP was notified by US Customs and Border Protection on Wednesdaymorning that a group of people had crossed into the U.S. near Emerson, and thatone of the adults was carrying items intended for a baby, but there was noinfant with the group.

An immediate search began on both sides of the border, andby that afternoon, the bodies of an adult man, an adult woman, and an infantwere found. The body of a boy believed to be in his mid-teens was found shortlyafterwards. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota issued arelease late Thursday afternoon and said 47-year-old Steve Shand of Florida hadbeen arrested and charged with human smuggling in connection with the incident.

Shand was driving with two passengers determined to beundocumented foreign nationals from India, according to the release.

Inside the vehicle, officers found cases of plastic cups,bottled water, bottled juice and snacks in the van. As they were taking thetrio back to the border patrol station in North Dakota, officers came acrossanother group of five Indian nationals walking.

They said they had walked across the border and had expectedto be picked up by someone. The group said they estimated they had been walkingfor more than 11 hours, the report added.

One person in the group had a backpack he told officials hewas carrying for a family of four they had become separated from that containedchildren's items such as clothes, a diaper and a toy. The bodies have beententatively identified as that family of four, the release from the USAttorney's Office said.

The RCMP said it is working with U.S. Customs and BorderProtection and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In a statement, theCanada Border Services Agency said it is also working with law enforcementpartners, as well as its American counterparts, on the investigation.

The office of the Minister of Public Safety said in astatement: We are shocked and saddened by the tragic deaths of four peopleattempting to cross the Canada-US border, near Emerson, Manitoba. We extend ourmost heartfelt condolences to their loved ones, and our thoughts are with themat this difficult time.