OPP investigating after child's remains found in Grand River near Dunnville

Provincial police are investigating after the remains of a girl believed to be between one and four years old were found in the Grand River near Dunnville, Ont.

Emergency crews were called to the river around 1:22 p.m. ET on Tuesday after human remains were found, according to Const. Mary Gagliardi.

In an update Wednesday afternoon, investigators said they had confirmed it was a female child.

"The deceased, approximately one to four years of age, had been in the water for a period of time," read the media release from Haldimand County OPP.

Dunnville is around 55 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, close to where the Grand River meets Lake Erie. 

Police have set up a special tip line. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-844-677-9403.

Anyone who wants to remain anonymous is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.helpsolvecrime.com.

The Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service are set to conduct a post-mortem in Toronto on Thursday. 

No threat to public safety

Gagliardi said she could not provide further details about the remains, adding police would not be able to confirm how long they were in the water until after the post-mortem. 

Haldimand County OPP said it's continuing to investigate the circumstances of the death, along with the coroner's office and OPP forensic identification service.

Gagliardi described it as an "extensive investigation."

Police previously said there's no threat to public safety.