An internal RCMP review into the August disappearance of a 9-year-old girl and her subsequent death, has determined officers acted in accordance with current AMBER Alert protocols.
On August 31, Duane Lucius notified the Wetaskwin RCMP detachment to the fact his daughter, 9-year-old Amber Lucius, was missing. Two days later, Amber’s body was located near Sundre.
An AMBER Alert was not issued in connection to the young girl’s disappearance.
AMBER Alerts interrupt radio and television programming and social media accounts to notify Albertans of the disappearance while providing descriptions of the victim, abductor, and suspect vehicles. The information is also posted on electronic highway signs and Canada Border Services Agents are informed of the abduction to prevent the suspect from leaving the country.
Amber’s mother, 47-year-old Laura Coward of Millet, Alberta, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in connection to her daughter’s death and will appear in court in October.
The Alberta Solicitor General states the following criteria must be met before an AMBER Alert is activated:
- Police believe a child or an adult with a proven mental or physical disability has been abducted
- There is reason to believe the victim is in danger of serious harm or death
- There is enough information available that, if broadcasted to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the victim
- The alert can be issued soon enough that there is a reasonable expectation the victim can be returned or the abductor apprehended
RCMP have not released further details of the findings of the internal review in order to protect the integrity of the homicide investigation.
