The family of a five-year-old boy who disappeared along with his grandparents is set to announce a reward in excess of $100,000 for the trio’s safe return.

In an email to CTV Calgary late Tuesday, Rod O’Brien, father of five-year-old Nathan, said that the reward will be announced Wednesday through the Calgary Police Department.

“Should get the world’s attention to get Nathan home,” he wrote.

Rod O’Brien did not to elaborate on the details of the investigation, but said he is working with Calgary police, and may have more information to provide in the next 48 hours.

Police are calling the disappearance of Nathan O’Brien and his grandparents suspicious and residents in the southwest Calgary community who knew them had no idea anything was wrong.

At about 10 a.m. on Monday, police were called to a home in the 100 block of 38A Avenue S.W. by a mother who went to pick up her son who had been staying at her parent’s Parkhill home.

She told police that her son Nathan, along with Kathryn and her husband Alvin Liknes were all missing.

Police say that the child was dropped off at the home for a sleepover at 10 p.m. Sunday night, but sometime before his mother returned to pick him up, all three were gone.

They issued an AMBER Alert on Monday afternoon in connection with Nathan’s disappearance.

“Nobody has heard from them,” said Kevin Brookwell of the Calgary Police Service. “There’s been no information despite everybody’s best efforts, family and police, to make contact with them.”

Alvin and Kathy Liknes were planning to move out of the city, holding an estate sale over the weekend where they sold the contents of the Parkhill home.

Police say the estate sale is of interest to their search. While they say it is way too early to determine if it had any role to play in the disappearance, investigators want to speak to anyone who attended the sale.

Duty Inspector Keith Cain says they are going to be following up on any leads that comes to them from the public, although they have not received any good tips so far.

Cain says that the disappearance is considered to be very unusual. "We have people go missing in Calgary all the time, unfortunately. But, for a grandson and his grandparents to go missing, it is unusual."

Parkhill residents who knew the Liknes' say they are very surprised to hear the news.

“Oh, really nice people, absolutely,” said Jennifer Lee, a resident in Parkhill. “They were just on their way. They were moving to northern Alberta, I understand.”

Matt Dawe, who also knew the family, said they seemed very relaxed. “They were socializing with friends and family earlier on Saturday evening. Everyone sounded very relaxed and happy.”

Police, meanwhile, are saying very little about the state of the Liknes’ home when they looked inside. They do say that the family likely did not leave by choice.

The forensics unit combed through the home, taking photographs of the scene. They say all the vehicles are accounted for and investigators truly have no idea where they went.

Other family members say they are also stumped about their whereabouts, saying they don’t know anything else.

Brookwell says that police are very concerned. “At this point, we want to remain optimistic. But, again the fact that the house was not in the condition it was normally left in and that there was indications that they didn’t leave of their own volition, certainly we are concerned.”

Nathan O’Brien, 5, is described as:

  • Caucasian
  • About 91 cm or 3’ tall
  • Blond, curly hair
  • Brown eyes
  • Last seen wearing peach-coloured shorts and a striped blue hoodie

Alvin Cecil Liknes, 66, is described as:

  • Caucasian
  • 182 cm or 6’ tall
  • 90 Kg or 200 pounds
  • Slim build
  • Grey/blond hair

Kathryn Faye Liknes, 53, is described as:

  • Caucasian
  • 160 cm or 5’3” tall
  • 54 kg or 120 pounds
  • Red/brown hair
  • Green eyes

The Homicide Unit is leading the investigation, which is not uncommon in a missing person's case.

Police are asking anyone with information about this case to call 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477

TYPE: calgarycrimestoppers.org

TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637