Found Safe Canada - O’Driscoll-Zak sisters, 2 & 5, abduction by aunt & grandmother, Cochrane, 12 Mar 2021

[Seattle1]

Revisiting the 16 March 2021 link below, there's a bit more clarification here including that the girls were supposed to be collected by CMZ at the grandmother's house.

RCMP said Tuesday that officials are following up on all tips regarding the whereabouts of 5-year-old Leonine O’Driscoll-Zak and 2-year-old Wyatt O’Driscoll-Zak.

The two girls were supposed to be picked up on Friday by their father, Colin Zak, after he was awarded full custody of his daughters earlier that day in court.

When Zak went to retrieve Leo and Wyatt at their grandmother’s house, located outside of Cochrane, they were gone.

[..]

It’s believed that they are with their aunt, 38-year-old Alison O’Driscoll, and their grandmother, 68-year-old Therese O’Driscoll.

[..]

Meanwhile, Leo and Wyatt’s father Colin Zak had been pressuring RCMP to issue an Amber Alert.

[..]

Keibel said that there is no suspect vehicle or any location that investigators believe that Alison and Therese O’Driscoll may have taken the girls to.

Search continues Tuesday for 2 girls missing from Cochrane, Alta.

 

[MistyWaters]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

The latest RCMP update on March 19th indicated the RCMP still believe the four to be in Canada. But why they think that we don’t know.

“Investigators believe they have not left Canada and still believe the children are in the company of their grandmother, Therese O'Driscoll (68) and their aunt Alison O'Driscoll (38), all from the Cochrane area.”
Cochrane RCMP request assistance to locate two children and two adults – Update 2 – Still investigating | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

 

[Lyanna]

The latest RCMP update on March 19th indicated the RCMP still believe the four to be in Canada. But why they think that we don’t know.

“Investigators believe they have not left Canada and still believe the children are in the company of their grandmother, Therese O'Driscoll (68) and their aunt Alison O'Driscoll (38), all from the Cochrane area.”
Cochrane RCMP request assistance to locate two children and two adults – Update 2 – Still investigating | Royal Canadian Mounted Police

<modsnip> If they hadn't been seen for a few days before, it could have been possible for them to leave the country. Dont think they have. Curious as to why they seem sure family members are helping them - surely extended family members would be having some doubts by now?
imo

Edited to remove something

 

[otto]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

How could a grandmother and aunt possibly take the children across a border (e.g: USA, Ireland) without their passports being registered and raising questions regarding permission from the children's parents, especially father? I don't think it's possible.

 

[otto]

<modsnip> If they hadn't been seen for a few days before, it could have been possible for them to leave the country. Dont think they have. Curious as to why they seem sure family members are helping them - surely extended family members would be having some doubts by now?
imo

Edited to remove something

The family seems brainwashed into thinking that the children cannot be with their father. One would expect common sense to kick in at some point with questions like : if he's such a terrible father, why did the mother mention it only after he filed for divorce?

 

[Inthedetails]

How could a grandmother and aunt possibly take the children across a border (e.g: USA, Ireland) without their passports being registered and raising questions regarding permission from the children's parents, especially father? I don't think it's possible.

Good point. When my son (when he was a minor) traveled overseas with my husband and without me, I had to sign documents giving my approval. That, along with all the covid travel restrictions going on, I'm thinking they are still in Canada. jmo

 

[Lyanna]

The family seems brainwashed into thinking that the children cannot be with their father. One would expect common sense to kick in at some point with questions like : if he's such a terrible father, why did the mother mention it only after he filed for divorce?

If JOZ has knowledge of any of this, I am astounded that she wouldn't say anything - doesn't she realise what this could do to her daughters?
I just can't wrap my head around the lack of visibility from her.
imo

 

[Seattle1]

How could a grandmother and aunt possibly take the children across a border (e.g: USA, Ireland) without their passports being registered and raising questions regarding permission from the children's parents, especially father? I don't think it's possible.

Prior to Friday, 12 March 2021 when the father was given custody, the children would only need a letter from their mother granting permission for the children to travel with their grandmother (e.g., USA, Ireland, etc). At the time, she was the custodial parent. And no guarantee that anybody would have ever checked if the children's travel was authorized!

I personally experienced that domestic travel with minors is far too easy when I took nieces and nephews across the country to Disneyworld 18 months ago without a single inquiry. Albeit we share the same surname -- not one inquiry.

Whether nobody cared or just assumed I was the parent traveling alone with the children, I don't know. Regardless, if asked, I was prepared.

ETA: Confirming only application/issuance of a passport for a child requires the written consent of both parents whether married, divorced, separated. Once a child has a valid passport -- traveling without the parent seems very subjective.

(And if part of a trusted traveler program, one enters through automated Kiosks at select, global airports)!

 

[MistyWaters]

<modsnip> If they hadn't been seen for a few days before, it could have been possible for them to leave the country. Dont think they have. Curious as to why they seem sure family members are helping them - surely extended family members would be having some doubts by now?
imo

Edited to remove something

It’s possible but there’s very few International flights from Calgary right now even though it’s designated 1 of 4 with international flights due to covid, probably very few children flying as well so it might’ve been very simple for the RCMP to check out. I suppose it could be possible for them to cross the border to the US and catch a flight from there but still they wouldn’t go far without passports.

Might one of the family members who may’ve help them refer to the mother? That’s be easy enough to determine if she’s not in a huge panic, eagerly cooperating with RCMP to find her missing children, mother and sister.

 

[MistyWaters]

Grass fire west of Cochrane forces evacuation of gas station, gas plant, homes
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calg...n-gas-station-gas-plant-and-2-homes-1.5973453

It would be an extraordinary act of nature if a grass fire forced the grandmother and aunt with the children out of hiding so I must admit as I read this article the hopeful thought did briefly flash through my mind.....not intending to take away from the horrors of wild fire in raging winds.

 

[Satchie]

The two girls were supposed to be picked up on Friday by their father, Colin Zak, after he was awarded full custody of his daughters earlier that day in court.

When Zak went to retrieve Leo and Wyatt at their grandmother’s house, located outside of Cochrane, they were gone.

Wow, so he had been awarded full custody, I didn't realize that. IMO it's unusual for a father to be awarded full custody of two little girls. Something must have lead the judge to believe the mother was unfit.

It's alarming, since the Grandmother/Aunt very likely know that, if they were to bring the children back, they will never be allowed to be alone with them, ever again.

I'm sure RCMP are treading softly on this.

 

[MistyWaters]

Wow, so he had been awarded full custody, I didn't realize that. IMO it's unusual for a father to be awarded full custody of two little girls. Something must have lead the judge to believe the mother was unfit.

It's alarming, since the Grandmother/Aunt very likely know that, if they were to bring the children back, they will never be allowed to be alone with them, ever again.

I'm sure RCMP are treading softly on this.

Within the December/20 dismissal of the motion to disqualify the judge, this quoted is from the earlier Appeal decision (also dismissed)

https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2021/2021abqb80/2021abqb80.html?resultIndex=7
(sections unbolded, new bonding by me for emphasis)
9......We question the utility of Practice Note 7 in the circumstances, given the expert’s inability to make recommendations to the court regarding the children’s best interests. It may be that an Evaluative Triage under Practice Note 8 would be better suited to the high conflict nature of these proceedings and the parties’ tendency for protracted disputes. However, we leave to the case management judge the determination of the best way to resolve the disputes and move this litigation forward in the best interests of the children, bearing in mind that the orders issued to date are only interim in nature and that at some point there will have to be either a settlement or a trial to finally resolve the parenting situation....”

So therefore following that I wonder if the Judge did pursue a Practise Note 8 completed by a “Parenting Expert” who’s recommendation was for the father to be sole custodian.

What is a Practise Note 8 (PN8) -

Practice Note 8 Assessments - "Parenting Time / Parenting Responsibilities Assessments" | Calgary Family Law Associates

“A Practice Note 8 Assessment (formerly known as a “Bilateral Parenting Assessment”) is a comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional who gathers information from a variety of sources, who then develops a recommendation about what is the optimal parenting plan for a particular child in a particular family.

The parenting expert gathers information from a number of sources, including but not limited to the following:

1. Multiple interviews with each parent;
2. Multiple interviews with the children, depending on their age;
3. Observations of parent and child together;
4. A review of references provided by collateral contacts;
5. A review of each parent’s proposed parenting plan; and
6. A review of the psychological testing results of each parent.

If either or both parents have re-partnered, their new partner may also be assessed.

After the psychologist has obtained all of the information, the psychologist writes a report which is often very lengthy and very detailed, and gives recommendations to parents, and ultimately the court, on the best parenting plan for these children......”

 

[fcavanaugh]

Hi all, I’ve been reading along, and thanks for all your informative posts. Sad, scary case. It made me think of the Samantha/Savanna Todd parental abduction in 1994 out of South Carolina that 48 hours covered a few yrs. ago.
At the time, this was SC’s longest child custody proceeding in Charleston county’s history, and the Mother (abductor) was the subject of an FBI decades long manhunt.

This case has some striking similarities to Savanna’s- acrimonious divorce and custody battle with allegations of mental illness and abuse. Long story short, Father was awarded full custody and Mother abducted the child. She planned it, had help from family escaping the U.S., changed she and their daughter’s identities and lived overseas, mostly Australia, for 20 yrs. before being arrested in 2013. Savanna’s Father pursued a decades long campaign/search to find her right up until the Mother’s arrest almost 20 yrs. later. To this day, Savanna stands by her Mother, feels she did the right thing, even though she was only an infant of 11 mos. when her Mother abducted her. See some of Savanna’s comments at age 20 in 2nd link. It’s a fascinating case and just thought I’d post the links in case some hadn’t heard about Savanna’s case and interested reading.

*It may not be easy to escape to other countries today per CV19 etc., and I’m really hoping and praying these babies are somewhere safe, still in the country and Grandma & Auntie come to their senses sooner than later, and do the right thing/what’s best for the children, before too much more collateral damage is done.


https://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/crime/dorothy-lee-barnett-today-48-hours-interview/?amp=true

Savanna Todd stands by mother who took her from Johns Island father, resettled in Australia


IMHOO

 

[concon19]

Thanks for this thread, by the way. I live half an hour away from where the girls are from and can’t understand how this all happened. Been following along on this forum for a couple of weeks now to see what others’ thoughts were.

 

[Seattle1]

Thanks for this thread, by the way. I live half an hour away from where the girls are from and can’t understand how this all happened. Been following along on this forum for a couple of weeks now to see what others’ thoughts were.

Welcome to WS @concon19. It's always great to have local members and the input only somebody familiar with the area can provide. Not only is WS a facts-based forum but the forum also protects the privacy of family and friends of the victims and/or suspects. In other words, we can not link the social media accounts of family members. I'm adding the link to WS rules below for your convenience.

Rules - Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, etc.

 

[LadyL]

wow, someone has to be helping these people
where are they living? how are they living financially?
how are they hiding these kids?

 

[MistyWaters]

Canada Police Report - Missing Persons has published an update dated today, not really anything new other than emphasizing the RCMP is not about to back away.

Canada Police Report
Cochrane, Alberta – (April 1, 2021) – The RCMP Serious Crimes Branch continue to investigate the disappearance of 5-year-old Leonine O’Driscoll-Zak and 2-year-old Wyatt O’Driscoll-Zak.

Investigators have been working around the clock to locate the girls and bring them home.

The RCMP believe that children are with Allison and Therese O’Driscoll and that the family is receiving assistance from others to prevent them from being found.

The RCMP want to send a clear message to those that are assisting, that even if they believe they are acting in their best interests of the children, any assistance provided that contributes to the abduction is a criminal offence and the RCMP will investigate those involved and charges may be laid. Any assistance being provided is only exasperating the situation.

Police have not stopped investigating and won’t stop until they locate the children.

If you have any information in relation to their current location or about those who are assisting the family, please contact the Cochrane RCMP at 403-932-2211. 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.

 

[LadyL]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

How could a grandmother and aunt possibly take the children across a border (e.g: USA, Ireland) without their passports being registered and raising questions regarding permission from the children's parents, especially father? I don't think it's possible.

unless they've been planning this for a long time and have fake passports

 

[ttcRider]

In an update on Thursday, police said they believe the aunt and grandmother are receiving financial assistance from the family in order to avoid being found.

RCMP continue to look for missing Cochrane girls, believe people are helping hide them

 

[MistyWaters]

In an update on Thursday, police said they believe the aunt and grandmother are receiving financial assistance from the family in order to avoid being found.

RCMP continue to look for missing Cochrane girls, believe people are helping hide them

If the RCMP believe the aunt and grandmother are receiving financial assistance that’s good news, they know more than they’re saying. The family may think they’re providing them with financial assistance in order to avoid being found...but financial transactions are easily traced from end to end so I’m hopeful the police are soon closing in.