Six Bodies of Indian and Romanian Family Members Recovered from St. Lawrence River, Two Still Missing

Six bodies have been recovered from St. Lawrence River on Thursday afternoon, including a child who was carrying a Canadian passport. The identities of the deceased are unknown as of now and the police have stated there is no threat to pubis safety at this time. Police is still looking for two more bodies.

An air search operation involving the Canadian Coast Guard and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police has recovered six bodies from St. Lawrence River including five adults and a child under the age of three. The child had a Canadian passport. It is believed that the group included an Indian family and a Romanian family trying to cross into the US from Canada illegally.

Police have also shared that Casey Oakes, 30, an Akwesasne resident is still missing. Oakes was last seen on Wednesday boarding a small, light blue vessel, leaving Cornwall Island. An infant from the Romanian family is also missing. A Canadian passport was recovered which is said to belong to the infant.

The first body was reportedly found around 5 p.m. in a marsh in Tsi Snaihne (Snye) in Akwesasne that straddles Quebec, Ontario, and New York state. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death of the six bodies. “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,” the police shared in a press release.

Quebec provincial police (SQ) will be assisting in the search for the remaining persons and are sending a helicopter, special investigators, and divers to the site.

Officers have also found the board these people were said to be traveling in. Its hull was dented on the bottom as if it hit a rock or some ice. The boat was small, and according to officials, wouldn’t have been able to safely carry seven or eight people.

Vineet Washington