Alberta RCMP marks the 1-year anniversary of missing child Darius Macdougall

September 21, 2026 - Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
From: Alberta RCMP

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Crowsnest Pass, Alta. - September 21, 2026, marks one year since six-year-old Darius MacDougall went missing in the Crowsnest Pass area. The Alberta RCMP recognizes that Darius’ disappearance continues to weigh heavily on his family and those who know and love him. The passage of time does not lessen the importance of finding answers, and investigators remain committed to pursuing information that may help bring clarity to what happened to Darius. 

While the extensive search that followed his disappearance has concluded, investigative work continues behind the scenes. Investigators remain focused on reviewing information, pursuing viable leads, and identifying any information that may help provide answers about Darius’s disappearance. 

To date, RCMP has received just over 70 tips from the public regarding this investigation, and every tip was fully investigated. Unfortunately, none have led to finding Darius. However, we will continue to investigate. 

The Alberta RCMP continues to encourage anyone who may have information about Darius’ disappearance or whereabouts to come forward. You can contact the Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866. Information that may seem insignificant could be important to the investigation, and investigators will assess any new information provided. 

BACKGROUND:

Oct. 1, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 6-year-old – Update #18

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 6-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Wednesday Oct. 1 

Time                    12:00 p.m.  

BACKGROUND:

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #17

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – The search continues today for Darius. 

The priority today is a targeted search of higher probability areas that have previously been searched multiple times. Additionally, ground search assets continue to follow up on leads from the public.

There will be no media availability today. We will continue to keep media informed as to updates and potential future availabilities. 

 Sept. 29, 2025 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #16

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – As of right now, there is no planned media availability for today regarding the search for Darius. Alberta RCMP will continue to keep media informed as to updates and potential future availabilities. 

BACKGROUND:

Sept. 28, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #15

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – RCMP and SAR provided an update today regarding the ongoing search for Darius.

As we enter into Day 7, the search continues for Darius. 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 amount of time this search has gone on. RCMP and Alberta Search and Rescue are dedicated to continuing with search efforts.

The search continues and the RCMP and Alberta Search and Rescue continue to evaluate how resources will be deployed moving forward. Certain search tactics are changing, and Adam will expand on this more when he speaks. 

The investigation is on going and will be ongoing until we find Darius. We will thoroughly investigate every tip we receive. 

Adam Kennedy – SAR Alberta spokesperson and Provincial training manager 

On behalf of all SAR volunteers, our thoughts are with Darius’s family at this very difficult time.

SAR members and our partner agencies are continuing the search today. Given this unfortunate stage of the search, some tactics will be changed and ground search methods will be adjusted to reflect this. Additionally, there will be changes to tactics for previously engaged assets such as air assets using infrared technology.

Today, approximately 200 personnel are on-scene including approximately 100 SAR volunteers. Surface and underwater search assets are also on-scene to search areas previously searched.

SAR Alberta sincerely thanks its partners with the BC Search and Rescue Association and the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers for their continued assistance.

Sept. 28, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #14

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 6-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Sunday Sept. 28 

Time                    2:30 p.m.  

Sept. 27, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #13

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – RCMP and SAR provided an update today regarding the ongoing search for Darius.

The search continues today for Darius. Again, I want to stress that we are not scaling back the search. Our TSG officers are now on the ground doing a shoulder to shoulder search. These officers are trained to search for even the smallest piece of evidence and are re-searching the area where Darius was last believed to be. Also, the Alberta Sheriffs – Highway Patrol, are attending and will be assisting at the main intersection at Highway 3, as well as the staging area. 

We want to stress to the public that recreational drones are prohibited in the search area. There is a NOTAM in place, which is issued by Nav Canada. It is essential that this be followed as we have our own planes, helicopters and drones flying. You may think you are helping, but in fact could be inhibiting the search efforts. 

Earlier today, at approximately 9:26 a.m., Crowsnest Pass RCMP was dispatched to a report of an injured hiker near the search site. Numerous resources were dispatched to assist and the hiker had to be long lined out due to his injuries. We hope for a full recovery for this hiker, and although this is not related to the search for Darius, it is a good reminder as to why we do not want civilians coming to the site to search. The terrain is very dangerous. 

The Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has opened a Public Information Centre to support residents who wish to provide tips/information in regard to the search effort. The Information Centre is in the curling lounge at the Crowsnest Sports Complex, which is located in Coleman, Alta. It will be open from 3-5 p.m. This is an update from the Municipality regarding the support center we spoke about yesterday. 

Adam Kennedy – SAR Alberta spokesperson and Provincial training manager 

A determined search effort continues today. Approximately 225 personnel are on-scene today, including 128 SAR volunteers from Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. With the large influx of searchers into the search area, Alberta Emergency Health Services has been engaged to provide medical care for all personnel on scene. 

Search dogs, a helicopter and drones with infrared cameras continue to be used. Analysis of previous drone footage is also ongoing. Additional resources that continue to search are:

• Alberta Conservation Officers
• Alberta Sheriffs’ Fish and Wildlife Officers
• RCMP Air Services
• RCMP Police Dog Services
• RCMP Tactical Support Group 

While SAR Alberta sincerely thanks the public for its interest in joining the search efforts, we ask the public to please leave search efforts to the highly-trained professionals on-scene. Our SAR volunteers receive expert instruction in search and rescue techniques and protocols, followed by in-the-field mentorship from mock scenarios and real world responses. Once fully qualified, many SAR members move on to even more advanced capabilities.

Sept. 27, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #12

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 6-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Saturday Sept. 26 

Time                    2:30 p.m.  

Sept. 26, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #11

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – RCMP and SAR provided an update today regarding the ongoing search for Darius.

The search continues today for Darius. The Alberta RCMP understand there are concerns that we are going to start scaling back the search, but this is not the case. As of today, we have additional resources onsite, which includes 60 TSG officers (Tactical Support Group). Their main role will be to supplement search efforts.   

The Municipality has set up a Crowsnest Pass Community Support Center at the curling rink in Blairmore. Today, it will be open from 3-5 p.m. The purpose of this center is to give a safe place when concerned community members can go to support each other. These centers foster a sense of belonging and connection, especially with these incidents which are extremely hard for everyone involved. We will have representatives there from the search team to provide support, but this is not a place for media to attend to ask questions. We kindly ask that you respect this. 

Adam Kennedy – SAR Alberta spokesperson and Provincial training manager 

Search efforts are continuing today. The current average search radius is approximately 5 kilometers, with some searches extending out to approximately 10 kilometers. A total surface area of approximately 7 square kilometers has been thoroughly searched multiple times.

Overnight, resources were on-scene searching including the RCMP helicopter, dogs and drones with infrared and night vision capabilities. 

Approximately 120 personnel from Alberta and British Columbia remain on-scene today, joined by new resources arriving from Saskatchewan. 

As searchers push into previously unsearched areas, there is a continual consideration of the resources required. To meet the needs of new areas, horse search and rescue resources are now deployed from the Greenview Search and Rescue team.

On behalf of all personnel on the ground and in the air, we would like to thank the public for their positive thoughts as we continue the search for Darius.

Sept. 26, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #10

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 6-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Friday Sept. 26 

Time                    2:30 p.m.  

Sept. 25, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #9

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – RCMP and SAR provided an update today regarding the ongoing search for Darius.

The search continues today for Darius. Everyone is still hopeful that Darius will be found. 

On the investigational side of things, the RCMP is continuing to complete interviews in an attempt to find any piece of information that may lead to where Darius is. 

We are working with the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass to provide a way for people to help. Those details are still being worked out at this time. 

The RCMP continues to work close with the family, providing resources when required. You can imagine their stress right now and it is appreciated that the media is giving them privacy. 

Adam Kennedy – Training Manager (SAR Alberta)

Search efforts are continuing today at a high tempo. The priorities remain pushing further out routes that Darius may have travelled on, while continuing to cover areas previously searched. The current average search radius is approximately 4 km, with some trail searches extending out to approximately 8 km.

Overnight, ground teams continued searching, with support from RCMP air services, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association drones and Canadian Search Dog Association dogs.

Today, there are approximately 120 personnel on scene from across Alberta and British Columbia continuing the ground search. They are supported by RCMP air services and drones from CASARA and St Paul Search and Rescue. Additionally, technology has been employed that allows for drone footage to be analyzed by software, searching for anomalies that the human eye may miss.

To provide additional clarity regarding any involvement of the military, although we keep all of our options open, at this time they have not been deployed. 

Search and Rescue Alberta continues to extend its gratitude to the community and partner agencies for their unwavering support as we continue the search for Darius.

Sept. 25, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 6-year-old – Update #8

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 6-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Thursday, Sept. 25 

Time                    2:30 p.m.  

Sept. 24, 2025 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #7

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – RCMP and SAR provided an update today regarding the ongoing search for Darius.

RCMP is confirming that the search for Darius is still continuing in full force, with every responding unit working together in their fullest capacity. Today, RCMP can confirm that the following are on scene:

• RCMP Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RCMP drones)
• RCMP helicopter
• RCMP Forensic Identification Services
• RCMP Police Dog Services
• RCMP General Investigation Services; and
• RCMP plane is en route 
• GIS – General Investigation Services

An area of concern was identified and someone located what was believed to be blood. Our FIS team analyzed this and it is confirmed to not be blood – human or animal. 

We are also working very closely with the family, both on and off the site. We have Victim Family Liaison Officers providing direct support to family members. This is a specially trained unit that focuses on providing a Trauma Based / Victim Centered approach to managing those who have experienced a major trauma. This ensures a single point of contact between family and the RCMP who are focusing on the needs of the family, doing their best to reduce re-traumatization by ensuring they have a voice and are included.

Again, we are stressing that the family is asking for privacy and do not wish to be contacted during this time. 

Adam Kennedy – Training Manager (SAR Alberta)

Search efforts continue today, with a high priority placed on teams expanding into new search areas as well covering previous search areas once again. The current search radius is 3 km pushing out to 6.6 km. 

Overnight, search teams continued ground searches, supported by one RCMP helicopter and two search and rescue dogs from the Canadian Search Dog Association. 

Today, there are 68 searchers (from a combination of Alberta and B.C. teams) working alongside two RCMP dog teams, one helicopter and multiple drones. 

After consultation with two leading wilderness survivability physicians, the search effort and tempo reflects our continued hope and assumption that Darius will be found alive. 

The SAR community and especially those involved in this search would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support from the public and our partner agencies – many of which are working side by side with us.

Sept. 24, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #6

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. - Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 5-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Wednesday, Sept. 24 

Time                    2:30 p.m.  

Sept. 23, 2025 

VIRTUAL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta 

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #5

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. - Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta invite you to a virtual media availability regarding the search for 5-year-old Darius. Cpl. Gina Slaney with the RCMP and Adam Kennedy with Alberta Search and Rescue will be available to answer questions. 

We are doing this virtually so everyone can partake, as the site is very remote. 

The details are as follows:

Date:                   Tuesday, Sept. 23  

Time                    2:30 p.m.   

Sept. 23, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #4

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Crowsnest Pass RCMP is advising that the search continues for 5-year-old Darius. The search continued overnight and, unfortunately, Darius was not located. 

Numerous resources are actively searching today. 

An update will be sent when there is further information available.  

Sept. 22, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #3

Below is a summary of the interview held at the scene at 2 p.m. by Sgt. Mark Amatto and SAR member Peter Alfred:

• The search is still on going and will continue overnight
• The weather is very favorable at this time for this operation
• Daruis was out with 6 family members when he separated from the group
• Darius is autistic
• Resources involved in the search are: 
• RCMP
• SAR (Southwest Alberta Region Search and Rescue)
• Over 60 ground searchers
• RPAS (RCMP drones) which have thermal imaging
• PDS (RCMP dogs)
• Ascent helicopters (Fernie)

It was asked if community members should volunteer to assist. This offer is appreciated but will interfere with the search as there are processes in place and it may contaminate the area. 

RCMP will provide updates as they come in. 

Sept. 22, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old – Update #2

Sgt. Mark Amatto, Detachment Commander of Crowsnest Pass RCMP, and a representative from Search and Rescue, will be available for an interview/questions at 2 p.m., regarding the search for Daruis. 

The interview site will be at the Highway 3 turnoff at Tent Mountain. You will see a white Emergency Services truck parked there. 

Please call Cpl. Slaney at 403-461-7546 to RSVP.

Sept. 22, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old - Update

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – Crowsnest Pass RCMP is advising that the search is still ongoing for missing 5-year-old Darius Macdougall. At this time, there are numerous resources in the area actively searching. 

On Sept. 21, RCMP and SAR resources completed extensive ground and air searches throughout the day, with negative results. 

When there is more information to share, an update will be sent.

Sept. 21, 2025

Crowsnest Pass RCMP actively searching for missing 5-year-old

Crowsnest Pass, Alta. – On Sept. 21, 2025, at 11:33 a.m., Crowsnest Pass RCMP received a report of a missing 5-year-old boy. Darius Macdougall was last seen walking with his family 2.5 miles South of Crowsnest Pass near Island Lake Campground. Darius has a medical issue which may prevent him from responding to others. Currently, RCMP and conservation officers are on scene,  joined by searchers from multiple agencies including Search and Rescue teams in Alberta and British Columbia. These searchers are being supported by drones, dogs, and helicopters. 

Darius is described as:

• 4 feet tall
• Short brown hair
• Last seen wearing blue/grey hoodie and sweats. 

If you have any contact with Darius , please contact the Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To contact RCMP non-emergency line within any Alberta RCMP jurisdiction call 310-RCMP(7267). 

Contacts