RCMP investigating the abduction of a two-year-old girl who was the subject of an AMBER Alert in southern Alberta say they have located the child's body in a rural area near Blairmore, Alberta.
RCMP officials held a news conference at 10:00 p.m. Tuesday and confirmed that the little girl's body was found in the afternoon during a police search.
“It is my very sad duty tonight to inform you that we have found the body of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette in a rural location near Blairmore, Alberta,” said RCMP Superintendent Tony Hamori. “The location of the discovery has been secured and investigators are now working to process the scene.”
Hamori says the family has been notified.
“The RCMP extends its deepest condolences to Hailey’s family. This is a sad day for the citizens of Blairmore and all Canadians who have held this little girl in their thoughts and prayers since Monday,” he said. “We can’t say much about the investigation at this point, other than to thank the public and the media for helping us find Hailey.”
Alberta RCMP issued an AMBER Alert for Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, 2, on Monday afternoon after a relative visited a Blairmore home and found Terry Blanchette, Hailey’s biological father, dead and the girl missing.
RCMP say Hailey was abducted by an unknown person at about 3:30 a.m. and the suspect vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed in a westerly direction. The body of Terry Blanchette was found at around 11:15 a.m. by a family member.
Police arrested a man in Blairmore on Tuesday in connection to the homicide and abduction but are not releasing his name due to investigative reasons.
“The male suspect who was arrested in Blairmore earlier today remains in police custody for questioning in relation to the investigation into the homicide of Hailey's father, Terry Blanchette, and her disappearance," said Hamori. "Police will provide the identity of the suspect after charges are laid in these matters."
RCMP say they are no longer asking for the public's assistance to locate the white van that was seen in the area at the time of the little girl's abduction.
"Our goal now is to complete the investigation into Hailey's death and the death of her father Terry," said Hamori.
The AMBER Alert has been cancelled and police say charges are pending in the case.
Anyone with information that might assist police in these investigations is asked to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers with information at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
