Infant missing, 6 bodies found near Akwesasne, Que., near U.S. border: police

The six people found dead in the St. Lawrence River near Akwesasne, Que. were two separate families likely trying to cross into the United States from Canada, police said Friday.

Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service deputy police Chief Lee-Ann O’Brien said the bodies of five adults and a child under the age of three were pulled from the waters Thursday. Akwesasne straddles the Canada-U.S. border and parts of the territory are in Ontario, Quebec and New York state.

The migrants were from two families, one of Romanian descent but whose members included Canadian citizens and the other composed of Indian citizens. The dead child was a member of the Romanian family and searchers found the child’s Canadian passport, O’Brien said.

The search continues for a seventh person, a missing infant. Police have also located the Canadian passport of the missing infant, who is also believed to have been with the Romanian family.

“The circumstances surrounding the deaths continue to be investigated. There is not threat to the general public,” O’Brien told reporters.

Police say Casey Oakes, a 30-year-old resident from Akwesasne, is also missing and investigators are asking for information that could lead to his whereabouts.

Oakes’ boat was discovered not far from the bodies, but O’Brien could not say if the two events are related. Oakes does not have a criminal record.

The first body was found around 5 p.m. Thursday in a marsh area during an air search, according to police. The area continues to be canvassed by a police marine unit with the help of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Hogansburg Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department. Quebec provincial police are also helping in the investigation.

On Friday, Akwesasne police said there have been 48 incidents of people trying to cross illegally into Canada or into the United States through the Mohawk territory since January, and most of them have been of Indian or Romanian descent.

O’Brien confirmed that the two families pulled from the water “are all believed to have been attempting illegal entry into the U.S.” from Canada.

In the meantime, post-mortem and toxicology tests have been ordered to determine the cause of the deaths. Police say they are attempting to identify the victims and determine their status in Canada.

Earlier Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted to the discoveries by telling reporters in Moncton, N.B. that “our hearts go out to the families of the individuals who perished; this is a heartbreaking situation, given the young child that was among them.”

Quebec Premier François Legault described the deaths as a “horrible tragedy.”

“My thoughts are with the families, loved ones and community,” he wrote on Twitter.

Un drame horrible. Une enquête est en cours. Mes pensées accompagnent les familles, les proches et la communauté. https://t.co/CzhShjbh0a

— François Legault (@francoislegault) March 31, 2023

— with files from The Canadian Press

by Global News