Medical Examiner: Missing girl's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head

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BUT WE BEGIN WITH TERRY SATER AND THE UPDATE FROM MILWAUKEE POLICE. >> MILWAUKEE POLICE TOLD US HERE TODAY AT HEADQUARTERS THEY BELIEVE THEY FOUND NOELANI’S BODY MORE THAN 300 MILES AWAY IN RURAL SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. >> WE BELIEVE WE HAVE FOUND NOELANI. WE BELIEVE THAT CURRENTLY THIS GOING TO BE A DEATH INVESTIGATION. WHAT POLICE DID SAY WAS AROUND 7:00 FRIDAY NIGHT AN OFF-DUTY PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEE IN RURAL MINNESOTA OBSERVED SOMETHING OUT OF THE NORM. THE WORKER DROVE HOME ALONG HIGHWAY 218, 15 MILES NORTH OF AUSTIN, MINNESOTA. >> JUST OFF THE SHOULDER WAS A BLANKET. INSIDE THE BLANKET, WRAPPED IN THERE, WAS THE BODY OF A CHILD. WE BELIEVE IT IS THAT OF NOELAN >> POLICE ISSUED AN AMBER ALERT FOR NOELANI MONDAY NIGHT JUST HOURS AFTER POLICE SAY 34-YEAR-OLD DARIAZ HIGGI GUNNED DOWN NOELANI’S MOTHER, SIERRA ROBINSON, NEAR 91ST AND MILL ROAD IN MILWAUKEE. NOELANI WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND. >> CHIEF, CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER DARRAZ HIGGINS IS NOW COOPERATING WITH YOU? HAS HE TOLD YOU WHY THE CHILD WOULD BE IN THAT AREA OF MINNESOT >> AS FAR AS OUR INTERVIEWS THAT ARE GOING ON, AND BECAUSE WE ARE SEEKING ADDITIONAL CHARGES, I CAN’T GET INTO THAT. >> BUT THE CHIEF SAID THE EVIDENCE IS LEADING THEM TOWARD THE MAN WHO KILLED NOELANI’S MOTHER. THE CONDITION OF THE CHILD’S BODY FITS THE TIMING. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE LITTLE GIRL? WE HEARD THAT SHE MAY BE WRAPPED IN A BLANKET, THAT SHE MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND FROZEN? >> WHAT WE CAN TELL. WE BELIEVE THIS DEATH DID NOT OCCUR WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOURS. >> THE POLICE CHIEF SAID THEY HOPE TO HAVE RESULTS OF THE AUTOPSY BACK ON MONDAY AND HINTED THE MAN THEY HAVE

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Advertisement Medical Examiner: Missing girl's cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head Police: Body found in Minnesota believed to be missing 2-year-old Noelani Robinson Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Investigators believe a child's body found wrapped in blankets along the side of a Minnesota highway is that of 2-year-old Noelani Robinson, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said at a news conference Saturday morning.Morales said a Department of Public Works employee made the discovery about 15 miles North of Austin, Minnesota, as he was driving home on Highway 218 around 7 p.m. Friday. The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner's Office said Saturday night that it had preliminarily identified the the victim as Robinson, and that the manner of death was homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head.Chief Morales said it appeared the death did not occur within the last 24 hours. The Amber Alert has been canceled. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett issued a statement Saturday, saying, "I am deeply saddened by the news that the body of 2-year-old Noelani Robinson has been found. She was a beautiful toddler and her life was cut short as a result of human trafficking. Her unfortunate death is a reminder of the dangers of human trafficking. I extend my condolences to the family of Noelani Robinson and all who are mourning her death." The Milwaukee Police Department had asked for help nationwide to find Noelani, the subject of an Amber Alert issued Monday night. Her father, who is accused of killing her mother and abducting her, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a Milwaukee motel."The suspect is a cold-blooded killer," Morales said Friday of Dariaz Higgins. Morales said Higgins had given police false information about the girl's whereabouts."The search to find Noelani has become a game to him," Morales said. Morales said Higgins has connections to Miami, Las Vegas and Kansas City. The FBI had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading them to Noelani.The situation started Monday at 91st Street and Mill Road when police said Higgins shot and killed Sierra Robinson and injured her friend.A few hours later, police issued an Amber Alert for Robinson's daughter, Noelani Robinson.WISN 12 News learned investigators caught up with Higgins on Wednesday at the Midpoint Motel less than 2 miles away from the shooting scene, but there was no sign of the girl. There are multiple cameras on the property, but managers would not say whether police took any video with them or whether Higgins may have been with a little girl. Police also arrested a man they believe was helping Higgins while he was on the run.They found him at the Timmerman Terrace Apartments on West Villard Avenue about an hour after finding Higgins. So far, that man has not been charged, but he does have a criminal history.The victims' family has set up a GoFundMe page. Click here for more information.