By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

investigation ongoing

Autopsy confirms identity of eight-year-old’s remains found on Samson Cree

May 2, 2023 | 2:13 PM

*This story includes graphic details which readers may find distressing

An autopsy has confirmed that remains found on Samson Cree Nation this past weekend are in fact those of an eight-year-old girl whom Edmonton Police Service (EPS) had been searching for.

EPS says the autopsy has found that the girl’s cause of death was blunt impact trauma, and that the manner of death is homicide.

The names of the 27-year-old female charged with first degree murder and indignity to a dead body and the 25-year-old male charged with accessory after the fact to murder and causing indignity to a dead body are being withheld by the Edmonton Police Service to protect the identities of several other young children related to the deceased.

Police do say, however, that Edward Nievera, 66, was charged with accessory to first degree murder and indignity to a dead body.

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All three of the accused were known to the girl, police add.

It was the early evening of Monday, April 24, when West Branch patrol officers responded to a check on welfare call in relation to a child at a residence in the area of 87 Avenue and 165 Street, in Edmonton.

Upon arrival, police could not locate the child and began investigating. Due to the circumstances, Homicide Section took over the investigation and organized a coordinated search involving multiple EPS units and other external agency partners, including the RCMP, to search for the girl’s remains, EPS explains.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, the remains were located on Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis.

The investigation is ongoing.

READ MORE: Police charge 3 in relation to girl’s death after body believed found on Samson Cree