Searchers have found what they believe to be the remains of Parker, the 11-year-old Calgary boy who has been missing for just under two weeks, police revealed on Wednesday.
“Today is an incredibly difficult day. It is with profound sadness that I can confirm that we have found the body of a small child which we believe to be Parker,” said Calgary police Chief Katie McLellan.
“On Tuesday, we received information from a member of the public who located evidence consistent with clothing Parker was last known to be wearing. Search teams were deployed and as a result of those efforts the body of a small child has been located.”
More to come
An earlier version of this story follows:
Police have been conducting an exhaustive search to find Parker since the 11-year-old autistic boy went missing July 16 from his day home in the 0 to 100 block of Connaught Drive N.W.
“As part of our ongoing investigation into Parker’s disappearance, we continue to follow up on all evidence, information and leads,” the Calgary Police Service said in an email to CBC News on Wednesday.
“Recent potential evidence has identified an additional area between the Beaver Dam Business Park and Deerfoot Trail as one that requires a more thorough search, and that’s why resources have been deployed there today.”
This area is just to the east of Parker’s last known location, captured midday July 16 on CCTV footage.
On Monday, police said the decision had been made to “refocus” the search so that investigators could zero-in on specific information such as tips rather than do extensive ground searches.
Parker was last seen in the Thorncliffe neighbourhood on July 16 between 12:30 and 1 p.m.
Parker was last seen shirtless, wearing grey shorts, black Skechers shoes and black noise-cancelling headphones.
He’s four feet 11 inches tall and weighs approximately 90 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Police are asking anyone with information about Parker’s location, or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage, to call 403-266-1234 or use the police evidence submission portal.
