Edmonton police focus search for missing teen near Carrot Creek

Edmonton police have narrowed their search for missing 14-year-old Samuel Bird to a wooded rural area near Carrot Creek, about 90 minutes west of the city.

Bird, last seen four months ago in the Canora neighbourhood, is now presumed dead, according to investigators.

“I feel like we’re so much closer,” said Alanna, Bird’s mom. “I always say that, but I just feel like it could always be today.”

Alanna says she has spent nearly every day since her son went missing in June, scouring the city and the river running through it with help from dedicated volunteer search crews looking for answers that would bring her son justice.

Now that the search is focused, she feels answers are closer than ever before.

“It gives me more hope, and it’s given the family more hope,” said Alanna. “I feel like we’re just going to find him. I can say that I probably know Edmonton like the back of my hand now — from everywhere I’ve checked in Edmonton.”

While police are searching for the boy’s remains and evidence — using cadaver dogs and drones — they’re asking the public to stay away from the area.

The president of Search and Rescue Alberta, an organization helping police in this case, says this will protect the difficult and critical work from being compromised.

“Canine handlers are using tracking techniques, and if there are footprints everywhere after a dog has got a scent, it makes it difficult for them to continue to track and develop that evidence further,” said Brian Carriere, president of Alberta Search and Rescue.

Carriere explains police may be looking at very small and delicate evidence or traces of it, and having others in the area could throw off the canine units or contaminate critical forensic elements.

“You’re going to be looking for the slightest discolouration, the slightest indentation in the ground in order to develop that into further evidence and help guide you to a successful find,” said Carriere.

For Alanna, she’s glad police have continued to show so much dedication in bringing her family answers and justice.

“I have so much respect for them,” said Alanna. “They’ve always kept me in the loop of what was going on with Samuel, and they’ve always took anything that I shared with them seriously, and I didn’t feel like it was just pushed aside.

“It might not be right away, maybe, but I know we’re going to get justice, and the Edmonton police have all my respect.”

Police say they have significant evidence suggesting Samuel’s remains; however, as they race the clock and possible winter snow in the coming weeks, homicide detectives are hoping for answers before then and aren’t ruling out searches in the spring.