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

[Inthedetails]

I guess no one thinks their child is really lost and maybe they are fibbing and hiding or playing a game... but in that wilderness, different story.

Thank you for your insight on the area too. Is it very populated with locals or campers where they were? I imagine the main campgrounds were busier? MOO, I have no idea but curious if people around that weren't in the family/other campers.

I can envision looking for a lost child before calling LE. You would be expecting to find him, ykwim?

Horrible situation and it's painful to think about.

jmo

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I can envision looking for a lost child before calling LE. You would be expecting to find him, ykwim?

Horrible situation and it's painful to think about.

jmo

Ya, I feel like I would be freaking out but my husband might say I'm overreacting and we'll find our child if lost and to relax *eyeroll*

I wonder if the adults around brushed it off at first which I think is human nature - we don't expect the worst! And then to sound the alarms if a prank, but sadly this wasn't a prank Hindsight is always so different. Super sad.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I sure wish LE would engage and get assistance with any local First Nations around those areas. Or maybe they have?

I'm unsure there are any FN in the area I think there is... but I think it was assistance from First Nations (Billy Beardy, a Cree trapper) that helped find the bodies in the manhunt for Cam and Bryer in the wilderness. I remember something about Billy seeing a Raven and they went on boat and found them in the weirdest spot. Amazing.

There was a WS thread about it, funny hard to find the news link for it now with specific details.

Thread 'Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #22'

Jul 19, 2019

An Australian man and his American girlfriend have died in suspicious circumstances in Canada, sparking fears they may have been murdered.

Lucas Fowler is reported to be the son of senior NSW police officer, Inspector Stephen Fowler. He was found dead alongside his girlfriend, North Carolina woman Chynna Deese, in British Columbia earlier this week sparking fears of foul play.

Chynna’s sister Kennedy Deese wrote they pair were “homicide victims along a remote stretch of highway in Canada while on a road trip.”

An older style blue mini-van the pair was believed to have been...

• Strangeworld
• Replies: 1,125
• Forum: In the News

 

[Serononin]

I sure wish LE would engage and get assistance with any local First Nations around those areas. Or maybe they have?

I'm unsure there are any FN in the area I think there is... but I think it was assistance from First Nations (Billy Beardy, a Cree trapper) that helped find the bodies in the manhunt for Cam and Bryer in the wilderness. I remember something about Billy seeing a Raven and they went on boat and found them in the weirdest spot. Amazing.

There was a WS thread about it, funny hard to find the news link for it now with specific details.

Thread 'Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #22'

Jul 19, 2019

An Australian man and his American girlfriend have died in suspicious circumstances in Canada, sparking fears they may have been murdered.

Lucas Fowler is reported to be the son of senior NSW police officer, Inspector Stephen Fowler. He was found dead alongside his girlfriend, North Carolina woman Chynna Deese, in British Columbia earlier this week sparking fears of foul play.

Chynna’s sister Kennedy Deese wrote they pair were “homicide victims along a remote stretch of highway in Canada while on a road trip.”

An older style blue mini-van the pair was believed to have been...

• Strangeworld
• Replies: 1,125
• Forum: In the News

The Crowsnest Museum website has some information about First Nations in the area: Indigenous | crowsnest-museum

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1973066456049811654

 

[tarabull]

Considering what this day is in Canada....please let Darius be found safe today!!

 

[tarabull]

Mother of six-year-old boy missing in Crowsnest Pass makes public plea for information

As the search for Darius Macdougall in Crowsnest Pass continues, his mother has made a plea for any information about his whereabouts.

calgaryherald.com

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Considering what this day is in Canada....please let Darius be found safe today!!

100%!! Would love that.

 

[MistyWaters]

In a little bit over an hour from now.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/rcmp-to-give-update-on-search-for-missing-alberta-boy-1.7648120

RCMP are set to hold a media briefing on Wednesday regarding the search for a six-year-old boy who went missing more than one week ago in southern Alberta.…

……The update is set for noon on Wednesday.

 

[lcl117]

I guess no one thinks their child is really lost and maybe they are fibbing and hiding or playing a game... but in that wilderness, different story.

Thank you for your insight on the area too. Is it very populated with locals or campers where they were? I imagine the main campgrounds were busier? MOO, I have no idea but curious if people around that weren't in the family/other campers.

Island Park Campground is a pay to use campground. It gets quite busy in the summer, especially over long weekends but definitely is starting to fizzle out with it getting cold at night, kids being back in school and no long weekends any time soon.

Tent Mountain Road is about 15 minutes south of Island Park Campground so i doubt anyone from the park would have even seen them. Where they were, no campsite and grounds were located. they could have been using a fire pit but those are few and far between out there.

My husband is Native and he grew up with stories from his grandfather about how to never go into the woods alone because there were entities that wanted to lure you away and take you.

I got the images below from Google Maps. This is Tent Mountain Rd, it doesn't follow the whole road but it goes down it a bit.

 

[100summers]

For anyone that didn't watch it, the summary of the briefing is:

The search at the scene will be completed this afternoon when they demobilize. They say they've searched everywhere they can within the area of where he went missing. The area will be open to the public again.

RCMP reiterate foul play is not at all suspected. Say they did extensive interviews with everyone who was with Darius that day and they found nothing to indicate any scenario other than him going missing. Say the family was fully cooperative.

A reporter asked about the family members he was camping with and the RCMP stated it's not relevant and they won't be disclosing personal details.

The investigation at this point is relying on tips and information from the public to pursue any leads.

A reporter asked if he was presumed dead. RCMP stated that if Darius is within the search site, its their belief he's no longer alive. They reiterate again that there's nothing to indicate he wouldn't be in the search area.

Reporter asked if cadaver dogs were brought in. They weren't. SAR explained that throughout our life and posthumously we give off different scents - they're currently utilizing dogs that would recognize the scent he'd be giving off at this point.

Reporter asked if there was any evidence of Darius found in the field. SAR says they didn't find any items in the field linked to him.

I'm not sure if the briefing will be available here now that's it's over, but it was all from here:

Alberta RCMP end ‘extensive and detailed search’ for missing boy

Alberta RCMP are set to announce more details on the search for missing Darius Mcdougall, who disappeared on a family camping trip in Crowsnest Pass.

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[TMich6811]

For anyone that didn't watch it, the summary of the briefing is:

The search at the scene will be completed this afternoon when they demobilize. They say they've searched everywhere they can within the area of where he went missing. The area will be open to the public again.

RCMP reiterate foul play is not at all suspected. Say they did extensive interviews with everyone who was with Darius that day and they found nothing to indicate any scenario other than him going missing. Say the family was fully cooperative.

A reporter asked about the family members he was camping with and the RCMP stated it's not relevant and they won't be disclosing personal details.

The investigation at this point is relying on tips and information from the public to pursue any leads.

A reporter asked if he was presumed dead. RCMP stated that if Darius is within the search site, its their belief he's no longer alive. They reiterate again that there's nothing to indicate he wouldn't be in the search area.

Reporter asked if cadaver dogs were brought in. They weren't. SAR explained that throughout our life and posthumously we give off different scents - they're currently utilizing dogs that would recognize the scent he'd be giving off at this point.

Reporter asked if there was any evidence of Darius found in the field. SAR says they didn't find any items in the field linked to him.

I'm not sure if the briefing will be available here now that's it's over, but it was all from here:

Alberta RCMP end ‘extensive and detailed search’ for missing boy

Alberta RCMP are set to announce more details on the search for missing Darius Mcdougall, who disappeared on a family camping trip in Crowsnest Pass.

www.ctvnews.ca

I’m confident there will be public searches occurring with the release of the area

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Island Park Campground is a pay to use campground. It gets quite busy in the summer, especially over long weekends but definitely is starting to fizzle out with it getting cold at night, kids being back in school and no long weekends any time soon.

Tent Mountain Road is about 15 minutes south of Island Park Campground so i doubt anyone from the park would have even seen them. Where they were, no campsite and grounds were located. they could have been using a fire pit but those are few and far between out there.

My husband is Native and he grew up with stories from his grandfather about how to never go into the woods alone because there were entities that wanted to lure you away and take you.

I got the images below from Google Maps. This is Tent Mountain Rd, it doesn't follow the whole road but it goes down it a bit.

Sorry long post!

Thanks so much for the pics and info! And thanks for confirming that is the road as I posted pics upthread (#126) but wasn't sure that was in fact the road and didn't know for sure. I have so many questions (for you and the others lol)!

So it is along a running creek/water. Is it fairly shallow I wonder?
Still fast enough if a child was ankle deep they might lose balance or fall down? But maybe not get swept away?
I imagine a group of kids going for a walk would likely walk the road?
I thought I saw online there was or is an old energy mine up there? But maybe I may have the wrong area or it's further away.
Are there quarries/rock piles close by?
I wonder if there are any long term dwellers/transients out there squatting or anything? But as you mentioned - getting colder.

I hope LE sought info from First Nations around that land, they know it best. About your husband's grandfather, sounds like he was right about not going into those woods I wonder if others have gone missing from that area?

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I’m confident there will be public searches occurring with the release of the area

I hope so, according to social media there's lots of people wanting to help.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

For anyone that didn't watch it, the summary of the briefing is:

The search at the scene will be completed this afternoon when they demobilize. They say they've searched everywhere they can within the area of where he went missing. The area will be open to the public again.

RCMP reiterate foul play is not at all suspected. Say they did extensive interviews with everyone who was with Darius that day and they found nothing to indicate any scenario other than him going missing. Say the family was fully cooperative.

A reporter asked about the family members he was camping with and the RCMP stated it's not relevant and they won't be disclosing personal details.

The investigation at this point is relying on tips and information from the public to pursue any leads.

A reporter asked if he was presumed dead. RCMP stated that if Darius is within the search site, its their belief he's no longer alive. They reiterate again that there's nothing to indicate he wouldn't be in the search area.

Reporter asked if cadaver dogs were brought in. They weren't. SAR explained that throughout our life and posthumously we give off different scents - they're currently utilizing dogs that would recognize the scent he'd be giving off at this point.

Reporter asked if there was any evidence of Darius found in the field. SAR says they didn't find any items in the field linked to him.

I'm not sure if the briefing will be available here now that's it's over, but it was all from here:

Alberta RCMP end ‘extensive and detailed search’ for missing boy

Alberta RCMP are set to announce more details on the search for missing Darius Mcdougall, who disappeared on a family camping trip in Crowsnest Pass.

www.ctvnews.ca

Thanks for posting a summary. I'm in a different time zone so thought it didn't happen yet! Sad news though... let's hope he's recovered by someone from the public if they go look.

I will predict a local will find him, possibly hunter or First Nations as they tend to know the land best.

 

[Dotta]

Sorry long post!

Thanks so much for the pics and info! And thanks for confirming that is the road as I posted pics upthread (#126) but wasn't sure that was in fact the road and didn't know for sure. I have so many questions (for you and the others lol)!

So it is along a running creek/water. Is it fairly shallow I wonder?
Still fast enough if a child was ankle deep they might lose balance or fall down? But maybe not get swept away?
I imagine a group of kids going for a walk would likely walk the road?
I thought I saw online there was or is an old energy mine up there? But maybe I may have the wrong area or it's further away.
Are there quarries/rock piles close by?
I wonder if there are any long term dwellers/transients out there squatting or anything? But as you mentioned - getting colder.

I hope LE sought info from First Nations around that land, they know it best. About your husband's grandfather, sounds like he was right about not going into those woods I wonder if others have gone missing from that area?

When I saw a picture of this running creek/stream along the road - my heart sank

Whenever I read reports in my country of missing people and a river nearby,
unfortunately, these people are almost always found in water later.

But I still have hope.

 

[AcerPacer]

Reporter asked if cadaver dogs were brought in. They weren't. SAR explained that throughout our life and posthumously we give off different scents - they're currently utilizing dogs that would recognize the scent he'd be giving off at this point.

Snipped by me
(thank you so much for this update!)

I have never heard of this before!?
"The scent he'd be giving off at this point"?? My understanding is a cadaver dog seeks a dead human body? No matter their age or anything about them, the dogs are searching for scent of a body?

"A cadaver dog, also known as a Human Remains Detection Dog (HRDD), is a dog specially trained to detect the scent of human decomposition, which is distinct from the scent of living humans. Law enforcement, medical examiners, and search teams use these dogs to locate human remains in a variety of environments, including land, water, and buried sites, to assist in criminal investigations and provide closure for families of missing persons. "

Is this a Canadian thing or am I out of the loop?

 

[100summers]

Thanks for posting a summary. I'm in a different time zone so thought it didn't happen yet! Sad news though... let's hope he's recovered by someone from the public if they go look.

I will predict a local will find him, possibly hunter or First Nations as they tend to know the land best.

Yeah, between all the hikers/bikers/hunters and other outdoorsy people in the area I think they'll find something. Especially as fall really sets in and some of the greenery starts to die off, which might make anything out of the ordinary more visible.

 

[100summers]

Snipped by me
(thank you so much for this update!)

I have never heard of this before!?
"The scent he'd be giving off at this point"?? My understanding is a cadaver dog seeks a dead human body? No matter their age or anything about them, the dogs are searching for scent of a body?

"A cadaver dog, also known as a Human Remains Detection Dog (HRDD), is a dog specially trained to detect the scent of human decomposition, which is distinct from the scent of living humans. Law enforcement, medical examiners, and search teams use these dogs to locate human remains in a variety of environments, including land, water, and buried sites, to assist in criminal investigations and provide closure for families of missing persons. "

Is this a Canadian thing or am I out of the loop?

I'm not sure! I originally thought the lack of them was because there's so few in Canada and they may be working elsewhere in the country, but that was the explanation SAR provided.

 

[AcerPacer]

I'm not sure! I originally thought the lack of them was because there's so few in Canada and they may be working elsewhere in the country, but that was the explanation SAR provided.

Oh please don't think my Q was aimed at you, you only wrote out the words!