A 16-year-old girl who was horrifically beaten and left for dead in the Assiniboine River is now recovering in hospital, as homicide detective search for suspects.
Winnipeg police have obtained surveillance video of 16-year-old Rinelle Harper on the night of the attack, and are using it to retrace her steps, 愛污传媒 has learned.
The video shows Rinelle walking along Assiniboine Avenue with what appears to be two males.
Police say Rinelle became separated from her friends last Friday night, and was attacked near a downtown bridge, ending up in the freezing river.
She was discovered, badly beaten, along the riverwalk by a passerby the next morning, and taken to hospital in critical condition, according to police. The girl is currently in stable condition.
Rinelle鈥檚 aunt, Holly Harper, told CTV Winnipeg that the entire family is trying to understand how the attack could have happened.
"I can't even imagine what would provoke such an attack, such a brutal attack on my niece. Who in their right mind would do something so horrible?" she said.
Officers made the rare move of naming Rinelle on Monday, with the permission of her family. They're hoping that by disclosing her name they will encourage witnesses to come forward.
"Rinelle is a person in this community," Supt. Danny Smyth told reporters at a news conference Monday.
"She's a person that has a family. It's important that people are aware that this is an unacceptable attack on our youth and we're hopeful that this will resonate with the community and that the community will come forward and help us."
Rinelle is a distant relative of Grand Chief David Harper, who represents dozens of northern Manitoba First Nations.
Grand Chief Harper knows the girl鈥檚 family and watched Rinelle grow up. He visited her in hospital this week.
鈥淲e did talk a little bit about just where she鈥檚 at,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 in Grade 11 and she wants to continue to go back to school.鈥�
The attack has reminded many of the case of Tina Fontaine, who was pulled from the Red River on Aug. 17. Unlike Rinelle, Tina Fontaine did not survive.
The 15-year-old Fontaine had run away from foster care, and was reported missing days before her body was pulled from the water. Her death renewed calls for a national inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women.
Grand Chief Harper said Winnipeg needs to focus on improving safety, and he hopes the attack on Rinelle sparks changes.
鈥淥ne of (the changes needed) is cameras -- cameras that could be visible throughout the city, the walkways, the private track areas,鈥� he said.
Investigators are asking anyone with any information about the case to contact them at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-TIPS (8477).
With a report from CTV Winnipeg and files from The Canadian Press
