Police find 6 bodies, including 1 child, in St. Lawrence River

[jennafyre]

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/police-f...20York%20state.

The bodies of six people, including one child, were found in the St. Lawrence River Thursday afternoon after an air search involving the Canadian Coast Guard, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police said.

CTV News confirmed the deceased child was found with a Canadian passport.

The police service said the first body was found around 5 p.m. in a marsh in Tsi Snaihne (Snye) in Akwesasne, a Mohawk territory that straddles Quebec, Ontario and New York state.

Police are waiting on autopsy results to determine the cause of death of the six deceased.

"Police are attempting to identify the deceased persons at this time and ascertain their status in Canada. There is no threat to the public at this time," police said in a news release.

Maj. Trevor Reid, a spokesperson for the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton, said that a crew on board a Canadian Armed Forces Griffon helicopter discovered an overturned boat in the area where the bodies were located.

Police confirmed that the discovery of the bodies followed a search for a missing person that also started Thursday.

The investigation is ongoing.

Authorities will search for possible additional victims on Friday. Quebec provincial police (SQ) will assist the search and are sending a helicopter, special investigators and divers to the site.

Quebec Public Security Minister Fran?ois Bonnardel said he is "monitoring the situation closely" on Twitter Friday morning.

[Angiebla]

Police confirmed that the discovery of the bodies followed a search for a missing person that also started Thursday.

Its so weird when this happens.

I guess their boat capsized and they didnt know how to swim.

[curiouscat]

Its so weird when this happens.

I guess their boat capsized and they didnt know how to swim.

If that's true, it was really dumb to get on the boat. R.I.P. Kid

[Bewitchingstorm]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...ople-1.6797256

2 people still missing after 6 bodies pulled from St. Lawrence River near Ontario-Quebec border

The dead are believed to be families attempting to enter the U.S. illegally

The six dead include five adults and one child under the age of three, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Services said in a media release on Friday morning. They are believed to be an Indian family and a Romanian family who were attempting to cross into the U.S. from Canada illegally, according to police.

Casey Oakes, 30, remains missing, police said. Oakes was last seen on Wednesday boarding a small, light blue vessel, leaving Cornwall Island. He was dressed in black, wearing a black face mask and a black tuque.

Also missing is an infant believed to be from the Romanian family.

Akwesasne is a Mohawk community about 120 kilometres west of Montreal that straddles the Canada-U.S. border and occupies territory in Ontario, Quebec and New York state.

[Bewitchingstorm]

This appears to be a family member of Casey's: https://www.facebook.com/ruben.oakes.92

[Bewitchingstorm]

Additional details have been added about Casey.

Joe Oakes, the man’s great-uncle, said his nephew was “probably bringing those guys across,” referring to the people whose bodies were found Thursday night.

Mr. Oakes said his nephew made this kind of trip often – once every week or every other week – carrying migrants from Canada to the U.S. for money, as do others in the community, according to Mr. Oakes. He said there was bad weather on Wednesday night, when Casey boarded his brother’s boat. “They know the river, but he probably just couldn’t handle it that night,” he said.

In February, local police reported an increase in human smuggling into the Mohawk territory.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/cana...esasne-quebec/

[Angiebla]

Well if it was pitch black and storming, they didnt really have a chance

[Bewitchingstorm]

Well if it was pitch black and storming, they didnt really have a chance

From what I can tell, it was also a small boat. These were desperate people.

[Angiebla]

From what I can tell, it was also a small boat. These were desperate people.

They were just trying to have a better life. What a sad ending.

[Bewitchingstorm]

They were just trying to have a better life. What a sad ending.

It really is.

[Boston Babe 73]

I get trying to come to the US from South America, but from Canada? By all accounts, Canada is so much better than the US so I'm a little confused.

[curiouscat]

I take back what I said. This is all very sad.

[Bewitchingstorm]

I get trying to come to the US from South America, but from Canada? By all accounts, Canada is so much better than the US so I'm a little confused.

I think Canada has tougher immigration laws than America.

[Bewitchingstorm]

A total of six adults and two children (one of them an infant) were found. How very sad.

https://www.wwnytv.com/2023/03/31/6-...und-akwesasne/

[jennafyre]

I can't find the article now but I read early this morning that a woman had called police the night the boat capsized and said she heard people screaming. The police came with flashlights they shined on the water but didn't see anything so they left :(

The same article stated that one of the families had been ordered to leave Canada and they were appealing that decision saying they would die if they returned to their home country. They were fleeing for their lives :(

I will post the article when I find it.

[marshmallow]

I get trying to come to the US from South America, but from Canada? By all accounts, Canada is so much better than the US so I'm a little confused.

In my part of NY we get many who come to plant/tend/harvest onions, apples, cherries, squash and cabbage. They may have been trying to get here to work and settle in. We see it a lot and those hands are needed but being able to get US approval to come isn't easy and they may have been scared to do it legally.

[Bewitchingstorm]

I can't find the article now but I read early this morning that a woman had called police the night the boat capsized and said she heard people screaming. The police came with flashlights they shined on the water but didn't see anything so they left :(

The same article stated that one of the families had been ordered to leave Canada and they were appealing that decision saying they would die if they returned to their home country. They were fleeing for their lives :(

I will post the article when I find it.

Gawd, that is horrible.