RCMP are investigating after human remains were found in East Selkirk.
Police were on scene searching the riverbank at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The remains were found near the junction of highways 212 and 204.
Police said that upon arrival, officers confirmed the remains were human.
On Monday, RCMP said they concluded their investigation as they determined the remains to be historic. The investigation has been turned over to the Historic Resources Branch of the Province of Manitoba.
Penny Gardiner was drawn to the riverbank for the running of the greenbacks. Instead, she ended up watching an investigation unfold.
"It's going right down to the bank, so down to the water. They are investigating something, but I'm not sure," she said.
On Saturday, a reporter with the Selkirk Record captured a photo of an officer carrying a cardboard box and officer wearing thin purple gloves.
(Source: Selkirk Record)
On Sunday, police tape surrounded trees and an RCMP van, as well as another vehicle.
Manitoba RCMP on scene for a second day by the Red River in East Selkirk. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/Yxz1KmI7gT
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) October 23, 2016
Officers brought in archaeological experts from the province's Historic Resources Branch to help comb the riverbank. Wearing gloves, the workers used tools and spent hours Sunday examining the slope down to the Red River.
Look closely and you can see two women working on the riverbank inside the area surrounded by police tape in East Selkirk. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/VLgbloZ4lg
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) October 23, 2016
People fishing and living in the area had questions over the weekend about the investigation.
“Obviously with the RCMP here, it's something of a serious nature,” said Rural Municipality of St. Clements Mayor Debbie Fiebelkorn.
She said she had been getting phone calls from people in the area wondering what was going on.
She said the investigation comes during a peak fishing period when East Selkirk receives lots of visitors.
Some images of archaeological experts & police along Red River in East Selkirk today. Human remains discovered Saturday, RCMP say. #ctvwpg pic.twitter.com/WvjJF0IKgf
— Beth Macdonell (@BethCTV) October 23, 2016
“I would like people to know exactly what happened, if there has been a crime committed, or if there is some reason other than a crime,” said Fiebelkorn.
Gardiner comes to this spot often to fish and is curious for answers.
"I'm worried about what happened there,” she said. “This is a prime spot and it would awful to hear there was tragedy there."
For now, Gardiner is warning others not to cast their reels in the area alone.
