Teresa Robinson homicide: 15-year-old boy charged with 1st-degree murder

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death ofTeresa Robinson, an 11-year-old girl whose body was found last May in the remote Garden Hill First Nation innorthern Manitoba.

"I knew this would come someday, but didn't know it would feel like this it really hurts," Teresa's mother Sandra Robinson said."I didn't think someone that young would do that."

The Garden Hill First Nation isa fly-in communityon the edge ofIsland Lake, about 475kilometresnortheast ofWinnipeg.

"As a parent and as a mom, I can only imagine how incredibly difficult the past 10 months have been for this family,"Supt. Paulette Freillsaid just after 1 p.m. CT Friday at a news conference in Winnipeg.

RAW: RCMP Supt. Paulette Freill speaks on the Teresa Robinson homicide arrest

9 years ago

Duration 1:15

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of Teresa Robinson. The boy, who is from the community, was arrested on Thursday and the charges were laid on Friday.

"Teresa's murder was an absolutely senseless and horrific crime. Itshook the community of Garden Hill."

The boy, who is from the community, was arrested on Thursday and the charges were laid on Friday. He cannot be named underprovisions of theYouth Criminal Justice Act.

'They're all shocked'

Garden Hill First NationChief Dino Fleet said the arrest has caused mixed reactions in the community.

"They're all shocked. We have been expecting this, or wanting to close this case, looking for answers," he said.

"There was fear in the community.We had no idea what was going on, if this person was still out there.There's a big relief at the same time in the community for people that have little children. For the parents, for the grandparents."

Teresa hadlast been reported alive leaving a birthday party in the community around 9 p.m. on May 5. Herbody was found in a wooded area on May 11.

"All I keep thinking was, 'It's someone from here.'I tried to think who," Sandra Robinson said."I told my daughter before,'Don't trust nobody, we don't know where this person is and we don't know who he is.'"

The condition of Teresa'sremainsfirst led people to believe she had been killed by a wild animal. Her death was later determined to bea homicide.

• Teresa Robinson death: Apparent mauling death a homicide, RCMP say
• Missing and murdered: The case of Teresa Cassandra Robinson

Last month,RCMPtook the unusual step of asking all males in the community age15 to66 to give DNA samples as part of the investigation.

• Human rights advocate slams collection of DNA samples in Manitoba First Nation

"The scope of the collection is something that was new in Manitoba. It had the fullsupportof the community and leadership,"Staff Sgt. Jared Hall said.

"Our investigators have spent tens of thousands of hours on this case and not a single day has passed where it hasn'tbeen worked on, thought of toiled over."

Hall said no amount of training canprepare officers to deliver information to a family about the death of an 11-year-old girl.

"It takes an emotional toll on our members," he said. "I can't explain what it's like to deliver news like this to a family member.

RAW: RCMP Staff Sgt. Jared Hall talks about the toll the investigation took on Teresa's family, officers and the community

9 years ago

Duration 1:01

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder for the death of Teresa Robinson. The boy, who is from the community, was arrested on Thursday and the charges were laid on Friday.

"If I was a family member I'm a parent, heaven forbid something like this happen to me I just want to know what happened," he said, adding police "ask them for their trust and faith."

Hall would not confirm whether the 15-year-old provided DNA to investigators, adding that all samples have now been destroyed.

Beginning the healing process

We have to remember that when you're that young that you're not responsible for your action.- Sheila North Wilson

Hundreds of people volunteered their time and efforts to find Robinson and help with the subsequent investigation.

"The tragedy of Teresa's death will never, ever beforgotten and there will always be a deep sense of loss for the family and in that community," Freillsaid.

"It's our hope however that the charge of first-degree murder laid today can begin the healing process and help bring some closure to the family."

Roughly 600 taskswere carried out by about 80 officers as part of the investigation,including 400 interviews with people in the community, RCMP said.

Fleet said that while thecommunity heals it will also reflect on whether anything could have been done to prevent Teresa's death.

"These are the things we have to go back and look at the social problems in our communities," Fleet said. "We have to look at every step, every angle."

'This speaks to a larger issue'

Sheila North Wilson, grand chief of ManitobaKeewatinowiOkimakanak, which represents the province's northern First Nations, saidshe hopes the arrestwill bring some closure to the family and the community in Garden Hill.

It's important to keep the age of the suspect in mind throughout the healing process, North Wilson said, and the role society plays in influencingthekind of behaviour that led to Teresa's death.

"We have to remember that when you're that young that you're not responsible for your action, you are acting out on things you think and see and you feel," North Wilson said.

"It's unfortunate that it's turned out this way for him, but he is a young man and we have to support the family in their healing process as well, because they are going through a tremendous time right now.This speaks to a larger issue in all of our communities across the northespecially in MKO territory that our young people are in crisis, they are in despair. They need hope, they need opportunities, they need resources and I think it is upon all of us to make sure they get what they need to find happiness and success in their lives."

Teresa was the youngest of six children.

"She always said, 'I'm going tobe the baby forever and ever, so we told her, 'Yes you will,'" Sandra Robinson said. "She would have a big smile on her face."

RCMP saidthe investigation is continuing.

CBC in Garden Hill: 15-year-old boy charged with 1st-degree murder in death of Teresa Robinson

9 years ago

Duration 0:43

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Teresa Robinson, an 11-year-old girl whose body was found last May in the remote Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba.