RCMP investigators have found the remains of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, who went missing from a southwestern Alberta town, and a suspect is in custody.
The girl was taken from a residence belonging to the Blanchette family in Blairmore, Alta., around 3:30 a.m. Monday, according to Crowsnest RCMP.
As a crowd gathered in Blairmore for a candle-light vigil Tuesday, victim services officials gave the tragic news that human remains had been found. RCMP Supt. Tony Hamori then confirmed the news at a press conference.
“We have found the body of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette in a rural location near Blairmore,” he said.
“This is a sad day for the investigators, the citizens of Blairmore and all the Canadians who hoped Hailey would be found and returned unharmed,” he added.
Earlier in the day, Hamori said a 22-year-old local man was arrested in Blairmore. He will not be identified until he is charged in the case.
The girl’s father, Terry Blanchette, 27, was found dead at the family home around 11:15 a.m. Monday after police were alerted to the body by a family member.
Hamori said the suspect was arrested “in association to both the homicide and the disappearance of Hailey.”
A white van was also recovered in connection with the investigation.
Hamori also said that Cheyenne Dunbar, Hailey’s mother, was being “co-operative with the investigation.”
Dunbar spoke to CTV News on Monday and said she was still trying to figure out what happened.
Staff at the local restaurant where Blanchette worked as a cook said they were shocked to learn of his death, and spoke highly of his relationship with his daughter.
"He loved his little girl, he lived for his little girl," said Jenness Shortreed.
An Amber Alert had been issued for Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette on Monday at 2:14 p.m. MT -- three hours after police received a call reporting the father’s death.
RCMP issued a statement Tuesday morning addressing the timeline of the Amber Alert. They first conducted a search for the child, including canvassing the neighbourhood, and also attempted to contact the girl’s mother.
An hour after the alert was issued in Alberta, police extended it to B.C., Montana and Saskatchewan “based on information (then) known to investigators.”
Pressed by reporters about why the public wasn’t notified sooner about Hailey’s disappearance, Hamori said that “some quality assurance checks and balances” are needed before an Amber Alert can be issued.
“One of the immediate things we did is a neighbourhood canvass,” he said. “It takes time, for example, to establish that Hailey didn’t just wander away from the residence and might be in a neighbour’s care.”
Hamori said “this is the toughest kind of case for police officers to deal with.”
With files from CTV Calgary and CTV Edmonton
