Discussions

To bring more negativity here, but a coworker with good knowledge stated that Manitoba Conservation is tracking 2 cougars in the area. If it is true then sadly there is a chance that that is what happened. I hope not, I just hope they find him

Abbysmum said "    hatsoff said "    bubbles89 said "Considering they have Search and Rescue from Winnipeg, Brandon and the RCMP, the Office of the Fire Commissioner, Portage, Austin, MacGregor and Carberry Fire Departments, the RCMP Air 1 Helicopter, 2 search planes, the canine unit, footprint specialists and hundreds of volunteers involved in the search... I'm pretty sure they've thought of everything! They won't issue an Amber Alert unless they have reason to believe the child was abducted. " I know they have their reasons and procedures for not issuing an amber alert but I don't understand it. A small child is missing. They don't know why he is missing. Why not have people search as well as be on the look out just in case he was taken. If he was taken the effectiveness of an amber alert would compromised by now don't you think? I hope they find him soon " The effectiveness of the Amber Alert would also be compromised if it was issued every time a child was missing, even if they weren't abducted. It has a specific purpose, and overusing it would make us immune to it.     It's like tornadoes watches/warnings. They used to be rare, but now they're more common. But most of the time they amount to nothings. I used to be scared when they issues them, and now I hardly notice. It's had precisely the opposite effect of what they were trying to do.     I don't want to see the same thing happen to Amber Alerts. "

That does make sense they don't want to desensitize people to the alert. Honestly though, when it is a child who could not have possibly run away or gone to hang out at a friends house, how is it not am amber alert, the age of this boy should be a critical factor in making those decisions to use the alert.  
I would also like to say to your other post you said they have no proof he was abducted, but they also have no proof he wasn't. I think it is better safe than sorry.

Very possible, they can take pets heavier then a small child, it is a real possibility they must be considering.  
 
I hope he is found safe soon.

The RCMP was asked about an Amber Alert this in the news conference this morning. There must be a confirmed abduction before an Amber Alert is issued. There has been no confirmed abduction in this case as far.  
 
Whether anyone agrees or not, those are the guidelines and policies set up for a situation such as abduction.  
 
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb/prog-serv/alerte-amber-alert-eng.htm  
 
I hope they locate this little guy soon! It must be devastating for all involved.  
 
 
 
 
 

But I wonder why they wouldn't have checked the creeks and ponds first. Children are attracted to water. I pray that he is found safe.

If there was a cougar near the house, would the animals have alerted the family at all? Growling, barking, etc? Also, would a cougar have gone after the animals first? I would really like for this to NOT be the outcome and I don't know enough about cougars as predators.

their prey and in the case of a small child could snap its neck in one bite. After the cougar has killed its prey it usually takes it to an area or cache, covers it up with brush and tree limbs so it can come back and feed on it later.  
 
I don't think it was a cougar attack, the animals would have sensed it for sure. and the amount of skilled search and rescue and trackers they have searching the area, I'm sure they would have discovered some kind of evidence.  
 
I didn't catch the whole news report, but did one of the reporters ask about a piece of clothing that was found and they didn't get a response from the RCMP about it? I'm just asking because I didn't see the entire news conference.

Justmy2cents said "But I wonder why they wouldn't have checked the creeks and ponds first. Children are attracted to water. I pray that he is found safe. "

Because there is no chance of finding him alive if he is in a creek or pond. They would search the ground first because at least he has a chance of survival if that's where he is.

I would think if it was a cougar there would be tracks of some kind that would be visible or there would be some article of clothing that would have been found.

If they have one of the area they can check for old well sites it's likely he wandered off and got stuck somewhere no one would look for him or what about machinery

Just curious, as I have not seen any part of the reports that say that the house and immediate surrounding area were searched. I'd assume this would be a given. You just never know what piece of machinery or pile of wood, shed, vehicle, etc. he is hiding in.  
 
I know they are searching large radius, but realistically, how far could he have gotten in between the time his mother saw him and when he was discovered missing. A 2 year old wouldn't make it very far in a few minutes before getting distracted by something interesting. I hope they start considering foul play soon, because this just all seems so strange. I know my kids could get away pretty quick, and get pretty far from me pretty quickly at that age, but something always caught their attention long enough for me to get caught up with them pretty easily.  
 
I've been watching for any updates so often, this is just heartbreaking.

Chatka said "    Justmy2cents said "But I wonder why they wouldn't have checked the creeks and ponds first. Children are attracted to water. I pray that he is found safe. " Because there is no chance of finding him alive if he is in a creek or pond. They would search the ground first because at least he has a chance of survival if that's where he is. "

I read an CBC article where it said the RCMP Underwater Recovery unit is now involved in the search and are looking in bodies of water in the area.  
 
Article:  
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/chase-martens-missing-search-manitoba-1.3505339

has parents making a statement to the media. I cried just watching the mom. I can't imagine the horror they are going through right now.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/chase-martens-missing-search-manitoba-1.3505339

I just read that an Amber Alert cannot be issued until ground search has been completed, yet there have apparently been 32 tips phoned in to say that people may have seen the little boy.  
 
Issue the alert already. If someone has truly seen him alive, that gives a lot of hope, and a lot more to work with. Sounds like they are literally coming up empty handed with the ground search. Not a footprint or anything. You never know what kind of creep was lurking around their property just waiting to take the little guy when no one was watching. It could be someone they know very well that knows their routine of letting the little guy play outside on his own while they watch from inside.

"Take it for what it's worth"  
 
 

Just back from Austin where I stayed after work for one final search for Chase Martens. Final notes on the day… #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

 

It was growing dark, cold and snowing heavily in Austin area as I left. Volunteer search was winding down. Search + Rescue… #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

 

… members seemed eager to continue through the night, but not clear if they would. One last note… I don’t want to spread… #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

 

…false hope or concern, but I know a lot of people care about the search. Around 7:30 p.m. report came over the radio that… #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

 

… a child’s boot print had been found in a field. Searchers seemed confident. But, it was getting dark + starting to snow… #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

 

… so search called off. No further info on that development. Take it for what it’s worth, just wanted to share. #bdnmb #Westman

— Ian Hitchen (@IanHitchen) March 25, 2016

I couldn't find anything online staying that 32 sightings had been reported, where did you hear this?  
 
Something i found suspicious was one of the neighbors wasn't happy about searchers on his field. Red flag! Something to hide?  
 
That was from the Ian Hutchins article.

Heritage said "I couldn't find anything online staying that 32 sightings had been reported, where did you hear this?     Something i found suspicious was one of the neighbors wasn't happy about searchers on his field. Red flag! Something to hide?     That was from the Ian Hutchins article. "

i cant understand why anyone wouldnt want them to search their property in a case like this  
 
im so sad for the family

CBC media says the search is resuming today Friday.So there is still hope!!

Give this the amber alert already. How long do they have to wait. They have spent days and countless reaources searching why not keep searching but put the alert out just as that extra step of help for the family who knows how far the kid could be away by now if somthing like that actually happened.

https://missingkids.ca/app/en/amber_alert-criteria  
 
'While criteria for issuing an AMBER Alert may vary from province to province, basic requirements include:  
The child is under the age of 18  
There is a belief that the child has been abducted  
There is a belief that the child is in imminent danger  
There is information to be released that may help locate the child and/or the abductor (e.g. description of the child, the suspect or the vehicle driven by the abductor)'

I don't see any reason or benefit to the Amber alert - this is not a case where it would accomplish anything that isn't happening already. Even if it turns out that he was abducted there is absolutely no information right now to suggest that is the case, and nothing new to communicate to the public that isn't already out there - no picture of a person of interest, no license plate or vehicle description to be on alert for. Amber alerts are to quickly distribute information so that the general public can be on the lookout. Sadly, that information isn't available or relevant when a child wanders out of his yard in a rural area. It doesn't mean he is not important or it isn't serious enough to have an Amber alert. It just isn't what an Amber alert is for.

there is reason for amber alert.  
the criteria to me sounds like it is met they have searched everywhere and dragged the creek with no sign.  
A CHILD JUST DOES NOT VANISH OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH  
someone must have taken him (my opinion) an amber alert would alert other provinces and people in other provinces and border guards to be watching,so how can this not be helpfull

With the aid of social media, the news is out there! There might not be an official amber alert out yet but other provinces are watching for him and apparently possible sightings have already been reported.  
 
I'm really hoping they find him soon!

I wish they would issue an amber alert, it would get border crossings and air ports on the look out. The criteria for issuing one doesn't apply to a child that goes missing in a rural area anyway. If he wandered on the road away from the house, someone could pick him up and there is nobody for miles to see it happen. They say there is no evidence of an abduction, but there is also no evidence he wandered off. I have a 2 year old son also, so this is really hitting me. My son can't go across the yard without losing an item of clothes, so this is why I would also be considering an abduction. God I hope they find him safe, this is every parents worst nightmare.

The thing is at this point with this story being everywhere in the media, including in national media and media in other provinces, is there really a need for an amber alert almost 3 days after the child went missing. Maybe they could of issued one the first day the child was missing but now the story is out there and people are aware of the case. I was talking to relatives in Calgary and they said this story has been on the news and in the paper in Alberta and it was also on CBC The National. A quick Google search turned up pages and pages of articles about the boy going missing, in newspapers and TV stations all over Canada. The whole point of an amber alert is to get the info out to the public and right now the info is out there.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by The_Young_Man, 2016-03-25 15:29:22

kevlar said "I wish they would issue an amber alert, it would get border crossings and air ports on the look out. The criteria for issuing one doesn't apply to a child that goes missing in a rural area anyway. If he wandered on the road away from the house, someone could pick him up and there is nobody for miles to see it happen. They say there is no evidence of an abduction, but there is also no evidence he wandered off. I have a 2 year old son also, so this is really hitting me. My son can't go across the yard without losing an item of clothes, so this is why I would also be considering an abduction. God I hope they find him safe, this is every parents worst nightmare. "

That's the thing....a 2 year old would leave some kind of trace, or not get far enough away in a few minutes before someone would be able to find him. Two year olds are noisy, or would be doing something like digging in the dirt, even if far away from the house, it would be enough to let the parents find him. It is so highly unlikely that he would have made it all the way to the creek and drown in that time span for example.  
A hat could fall off, or a boot in the mud, etc. There would also be foot prints leading away from the house in the direction he wandered. So if there is no prints, it is a possibility that he was picked up and carried away.  
This just seems to suspicious, as after 3-4 days of searching so many kilometeres around the house, you think they would have found the little boy already if it was simply that he wandered off, especially since search efforts began almost immediately. There would be some kind of trace of him in any type of scenario. Ie. If an animal got him, there would be clothing left, if he drown, there would have likely been a body found in the underwater search, if he got scared and hid in an area, he likely would have been found within this amount of time, as he wouldn't have gotten very far, and he may cry.  
 
It would have been so easy for a known person to him to lure him around the corner of the house with a treat, and quiet the dog with a treat, pick the kid up, and move away quietly. An adult would have been able to hide out and get pretty far away in just a few minutes. If the person was known to the child then there would not have been any crying out, etc.  
 
If there have been so many tips phoned in as per some posts on facebook, then an amber alert is necessary at this point.  
 
 
 
Edited by Jellybean, 2016-03-25 15:33:25

kevlar said "I wish they would issue an amber alert, it would get border crossings and air ports on the look out. The criteria for issuing one doesn't apply to a child that goes missing in a rural area anyway. If he wandered on the road away from the house, someone could pick him up and there is nobody for miles to see it happen. They say there is no evidence of an abduction, but there is also no evidence he wandered off. I have a 2 year old son also, so this is really hitting me. My son can't go across the yard without losing an item of clothes, so this is why I would also be considering an abduction. God I hope they find him safe, this is every parents worst nightmare. "

does it say that there's different criteria for rural areas?

How is there absolutely no sign or trace of this little boy. Be it an animal got him or just wandering to far, there should be something. It just doesn't make any sense. This is just so sad.

Any other info about the so called farmer that did not want their fields searched? I find that odd as well. Did the area get searched anyways, or was it put to a stop by this land owner?  
 
 
 

I assume the RCMP brought tracking dogs in? If he had wandered off to the creek or woods, they should have been able to follow the scent.  
It is so odd the family dog didn't follow him or become agitated, they are usually very protective.  
This is just a nightmare.  
Let's pray this is truly a Good Friday and he is returned home.