A 16-year old girl who was severely beaten, thrown in the river, and left to die on the weekend is awake and alert.
Officers have called for help investigating her case. Police took the unusual step Monday of releasing the name of the victim, Rinelle Harper, after asking her family.
“Rinelle is a person in this community. 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,” said Supt. Danny Smyth.
Officers said that while the attack against 16-year-old Harper and 15-year-old Fontaine, whose body was pulled from the Red River in August, show similar levels of violence, both cases are being investigated separately.
"I can't even imagine what would provoke such an attack, such as brutal attack on my niece. Who in their right mind would do something so horrible? What kind of state of mind do you have to be in to attack somebody that way?” asked Rinelle Harper’s aunt, Holly.
She said Rinelle is lucky to be alive. Her parents have been at her bedside and friends have been visiting.
She was rushed to hospital in critical condition and later upgraded to stable.
Supt. Smyth said the homicide unit is investigating because they started the initial investigation and are continuing with it.
He said Harper's attack was vicious and unacceptable.
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Incorporated Grand Chief David Harper watched Harper grow up. He visited her and her family at the hospital on Monday night.
“I did talk to Rinelle and we did talk a little bit about just where she’s at. She’s in Grade 11 and she wants to continue to go back to school,” said David Harper.
Police said Friday night, Harper was attacked after she got separated from her friends. Investigators believe she ended up in the waters of the Assiniboine River after the attack. She was discovered by a passerby along the riverwalk near the Donald Street bridge.
Emergency responders found the teen around 7 a.m. Saturday.
Harper is described as aboriginal, 16 years, five feet eight inches tall (173 cm), 180 pounds (81 kg) with dark brown hair past the shoulders. The night of the attack, she was wearing black leggings, white runners, a dark-coloured North Face hooded jacket and a black “WUTANG” hoodie.
Officers ask anyone with information to contact investigators at (204) 986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at (204) 786-8477.
- with a report from Beth Macdonell and Meghan Roberts.
