RCMP in Manitoba say four individuals were found frozen to death near Emerson Wednesday morning.

Assistant Commissioner Jane Maclatchy, Commanding Officer of “D” Division, outlined the investigation so far during a news conference in Winnipeg Thursday morning.

Police began their investigation after learning a group of individuals had crossed into the United States from Canada by foot, at the Emerson border crossing. Fearing there may be others, an immediate search was launched on both sides of the border.

RCMP officers discovered four individuals, approximately ten kilometres east of Emerson and about 40 feet from the border.

The deceased include an adult male, an adult female, a male in his mid-teens and an infant.

Police believe they all died due to exposure to the cold weather.

Work is underway to identify the victims, and an autopsy has been scheduled to confirm the cause of death.