Ottawa, ON - The family of four found dead near the US-Canada border has been identified by Canadian authorities.
A press release from the High Commission of India in Ottawa says 39-year-old Jagdish Patel, 37-year-old Vaishaliben Patel, 11-year-old Jagdishkumar Patel, and 3-year-old Dharmik Patel were officially identified by investigators a week after they were found dead north of the border near Emerson, Manitoba.
An examination of the deceased determined that the family died from exposure to the extreme cold. Temperatures on January 19 near the border were said to have dropped below freezing in the midst of a blizzard, bringing high winds and snow to Minnesota and Manitoba.
That same day, authorities arrested Steve Shand of Deltona after he was found in a van with two other Indian nationals. Another five were arrested just a quarter-mile away from Shand.
Following his arrest, Shand made an appearance in front of a federal judge in St. Paul, Minnesota and was granted bond under very specific conditions: he’s not allowed to leave the Deltona area for anything besides court, he must surrender any and all travel documents and not obtain anymore, he must report any contact he makes with the police, and he won’t be allowed to possess a weapon.
So far Shand is only charged with human smuggling. It is not apparent at this time if he will face any charges in the family’s death.
