CANADA Canada - Darius Macdougall, 5, Crowsnest Pass, Alberta,Canada 21 Sept 2025

[Lalalacasbah]

I agree with the water - I’m confused because I keep seeing they cleared it and feel he isn’t in it but I don’t understand how they could have fully done that

Not sure, the water area looks big but it also looks quite shallow and clear? Very hard to tell the scale of the area in pics! I'm unsure how they cleared it so fast as well.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I was wondering if they went with dads SO maybe who had their own kids? I have nothing to support this just a thought

Oh good thought! Possible for sure.

 

[TMich6811]

I guess I assumed mom and dad aren’t together but I don’t have anything to support that assumption

 

[MistyWaters]

Ok, it's a Limstone Quarry it seems....Here's a better pic of it. Hard to tell the size and mass of them though. Are they climbable? Seems far fro the campsite but maybe not.

Description off website: "Limestone quarry looms over campground at Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area".

View attachment 616432

Island Lake Recreation Area | Alberta, Canada | Crown of the Continent Geotourism

Uncover the authentic character of a place called the Crown of the Continent. At the narrow waist of the Rocky Mountains, where Alberta, British Columbia, and Montana meet, sprawls one of the wildest, most diverse and intact ecosystems in the temperate zones of the world.

crownofthecontinent.net

Drones have become a marvellous aide to searches. That looks very steep but none the less still a perfect topography to fly drones over.

From the CBC link above.
“The drones are equipped with software that can analyze footage too small for the human eye.”

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Drones have become a marvellous aide to searches. That looks very steep but none the less still a perfect topography to fly drones over.

From the CBC link above.
“The drones are equipped with software that can analyze footage too small for the human eye.”

I sure hope they're looking over that quarry area and "upwards" that way. I imagine they are covering every inch they are able to with what they have. Another nightfall coming and no Darius

 

[su5ie]

Wondering what the medical condition is…

“Darius has a medical issue that may prevent him from responding to others.”

Non verbal autism prehaps or tongue tie ??

 

[su5ie]

I know neurotypical children can go missing in terrains like this but as a mother to an autistic child I often question why anyone would bring an autistic non verbal young child of darius's age to camp in a place like this . They are already vulnerable and while I understand you have to expose them to the same things you would with a non autistic child . I do question the logic

Praying he is found but its not looking like he will be found alive unfortunately

 

[teeby]

He is verbal. Many autistic children are verbal, but because of their social deficits they don't consistently respond to their name and/or wouldn't ask a stranger for help if they needed it.

 

[su5ie]

He is verbal. Many autistic children are verbal, but because of their social deficits they don't consistently respond to their name and/or wouldn't ask a stranger for help if they needed it.

Thank you for clarification, I assumed he was non verbal from intial headline .

 

[100summers]

Not sure, the water area looks big but it also looks quite shallow and clear? Very hard to tell the scale of the area in pics! I'm unsure how they cleared it so fast as well.

I grew up in Sparwood (~30 min drive from the Pass) and in September large portions of that lake are shallow enough to see the bottom, and the water is fairly clear. There'd only be a few deeper sections that'd need more than a cursory glance to clear

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

“RCMP adds tactical officers as search for six year old intensifies near Crowsnest Pass

Nicholas L. M. Allen
Sep 26, 2025

Search radius pushes to ten kilometres; horse teams deployed; weekend effort to ramp up

Alberta RCMP and Search and Rescue Alberta said Friday the search for six year old Darius Macdougall is not scaling back and will increase over the weekend with added personnel and tools.

[SBM]

Adam Kennedy, provincial training manager with Search and Rescue Alberta, said the average search radius is about five kilometres, with some route searches extending to approximately ten kilometres. He said about seven square kilometres have been thoroughly searched multiple times. Overnight work continued with an RCMP helicopter, dogs, and drones using infrared and night vision.

[SBM]

Officials reiterated the search will not slow down over the weekend and that untrained members of the public should not enter search zones due to safety and the risk of disturbing clues. RCMP emphasized relying on official channels for accurate information and cautioned against misinformation circulating on social media.

[Cpl. Gina] Slaney said daily virtual updates are planned at 2:30 p.m. through the weekend. She also noted the timeline indicates roughly one hour between the family realizing Darius was missing and the call to RCMP.”

RCMP adds tactical officers as search for six year old intensifies near Crowsnest Pass

Search radius pushes to ten kilometres; horse teams deployed; weekend effort to ramp up

www.passherald.ca

 

[Inthedetails]

I grew up in Sparwood (~30 min drive from the Pass) and in September large portions of that lake are shallow enough to see the bottom, and the water is fairly clear. There'd only be a few deeper sections that'd need more than a cursory glance to clear

Welcome to Websleuths. It's always great to have local insights on a case. Glad to have you here.

jmo

 

[Chimera]

I grew up in Sparwood (~30 min drive from the Pass) and in September large portions of that lake are shallow enough to see the bottom, and the water is fairly clear. There'd only be a few deeper sections that'd need more than a cursory glance to clear

Good to hear from someone in the area !
Hoping for good news, but he's so young.


And, Welcome to Websleuths !!

 

[Chimera]

Trying to catch up here -- have they used SAR dogs yet ?

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

Trying to catch up here -- have they used SAR dogs yet ?

From an article published on September 21st:
“Police say the searchers are being supported by drones, dogs and helicopters.”

Searchers look for missing boy, 5, last seen walking near Alberta campground

Searchers from Alberta and British Columbia have joined the effort to find a five-year-old boy who police say disappeared near a campground.

www.ctvnews.ca

Dogs are also mentioned in the article linked below, which was published today:

RCMP adds tactical officers as search for six year old intensifies near Crowsnest Pass

Search radius pushes to ten kilometres; horse teams deployed; weekend effort to ramp up

www.passherald.ca

 

[Chimera]

Thanks; @inmyhumbleopinion .
Starting from where they were hiking and Darius was separated... wonder if the dogs found any trail at all ?
Imo.

 

[tarabull]

ETA:

More crews arriving as search for missing Alberta boy approaches one-week mark - Alberta News

Searchers scouring mountainous terrain in southern Alberta for a missing six-year-old boy said Friday more help is on the way and that they’re not losing hope he’ll be found.

www.castanet.net

[No sign of him...]