After an extensive 11-day search effort, the RCMP announced the conclusion of the search for a six-year-old boy with autism, Darius Macdougall, who went missing in southern Alberta on September 21. The boy disappeared during a walk with six young relatives in the Crowsnest Pass region while the family was camping in the area near Lethbridge, Alberta.
Despite utilizing searchers, helicopters, dogs, drones, and underwater teams across 22 square kilometers of rugged terrain, no evidence linked to Darius was discovered. The search area, characterized by mountainous terrain, elevation changes, streams, and fallen trees, will now be reopened to the public as the search efforts are demobilized.
RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney expressed that while the physical search is ending, the investigation into Darius’s disappearance will persist until he is located. At present, authorities believe that if Darius is still within the search area, he may not be alive. There is no indication of the boy being located outside the designated search zone, and no suspicions of foul play have emerged.
Slaney assured the public that the investigation will remain active as law enforcement follows up on tips and leads. She emphasized the ongoing support for Darius’s family, emphasizing that the authorities are committed to continuing the search operation.