‘Spoke about survivability’: Alberta RCMP, SAR meet with family as search for missing boy continues

Authorities say hundreds of personnel are assisting in the searching for missing 6-year-old Darius Macdougall.

RCMP officers and Alberta search and rescue officials met with the family of Darius Macdougall Sunday to discuss “survivability concerns” as the search for the missing boy continues.

Macdougall disappeared last Sunday morning.

Mounties say he and six family members left their campsite at the Livingstone Public Land Use Zone on Tent Mountain Road, south of Highway 3, to go for a walk.

When the group returned to the campsite, Macdougall wasn’t with them.

Professionals from multiple agencies are involved in the search, including teams from Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Search teams are also being assisted by drones with thermal imaging, dogs and helicopters.

“RCMP, along with Alberta search and rescue and victim family liaison officers, met with the family this morning and spoke about the survivability concerns for Darius, considering the terrain, exposure to the elements and the amount of time that this search has gone on,” said RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney.

In response to a question about survivability, Slaney said, “So at the point we are at with regards to the search, the survivability is less than five per cent -- so unfortunately, that conversation was had with the family today, and they understand how we come to that number.”

Assessing survivability

Search and Rescue Alberta provincial training manager Adam Kennedy explained how survivability likelihood is assessed.

“Anytime decisions like this have to be made and that consideration is taken, there’s multiple different factors that go into it,” Kennedy said. “Everything from what Darius was wearing to his health status when he went missing, the terrain we’re dealing with, the weather on scene over the last few days, or over the last seven days, as well as a major statistical analysis.”

Slaney said that search tactics have changed, but not been reduced.

Kennedy said some air search tactics have changed.

“It will change the use of some of the infrared technologies on the assumption that the infrared technologies won’t be picking up any heat signatures on the ground,” Kennedy said. “That’s the biggest change right now is changing from using the infrared to solely cameras to search the ground.”

Kennedy also explained some modifications search and rescue volunteers have made in consideration of Macdougall’s being autistic.

“There’s a few considerations made, given the neurodivergency that was reported, one of which is not using loud noises inside the search area to not push Darius further away from our searchers,” Kennedy said.

“Normally, in most searches, we would be using sound as an attractant method for a subject to draw them in, recognizing that in this particular situation, that would actually have the opposite effect, and potentially push Darius away from us.”

“So that was one consideration on the ground. Another consideration is the use of bright lights at night, so police vehicles driving the road with their emergency equipment so there are flashing lights activated, was used as a potential method to draw Darius out to the roads, given that we were under the understanding that he is attracted to flashing lights,

“Another consideration is the use of some sounds that would appeal to him to try to draw him out closer to the searchers,” which he explained as playing some of Darius’s favourite song that they learned from his parents.

Slaney said there was no indication of foul play or that Macdougall might have been kidnapped, but that those possibilities were still being investigated.

“At this point in our investigation, there’s nothing to suggest that we do not suspect foul play,” Slaney said. That being said, right from day one, all investigative avenues are being covered.

“Any tip that comes in is being investigated fully,” she added, “And we will carry on with that. So just because we’re saying survivability is is limited right now does not mean we’re stopping looking for Darius. We will still continue. We will continue until we find him.”

Public Information Centre

A public information site has been opened at the curling lounge at the Crowsnest Sports Complex in Coleman for people to share their tips, RCMP said.

It’s different from a support centre which has been set up at the Blairmore curling rink for community members to gather.

“If you think you know the area very well and you might know potential hiding places, safe places, this is an opportunity for you to go, have a look at these maps and point out potential areas, tips, that you might think might be beneficial to the investigation,” Slaney said at Saturday’s update.

The next update is scheduled for Monday.

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV’s Melissa Gilligan