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.

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.