Mounties say they located a white van they believe left the scene of the crime where they found a dead Terry Blanchette, 27, early Monday in the Blairmore area while arresting the suspect, a resident of the town.
Hamori wouldn’t say what led to the arrest, but added police had been canvassing neighbourhoods and following up numerous tips.
Family members say Blanchette had split from Hailey’s mother, Cheyenne Dunbar, and had shared custody of the girl, who was to have been returned to her mom on Sunday after spending time with her dad.
When asked if police are looking into any possible links to Dunbar, Hamori said everything is under investigation.
On Monday, her father, Kevin Dunbar, dismissed that possibility as ridiculous.
“She was in Edmonton when all of this happened,” he said.
Mounties wouldn’t say if they believed the slain Terry Blanchette knew the suspect, whose name wasn’t given Tuesday to protect the investigation, they said.
At the Pure Country Grill and Pub in the Crowsnest Pass, Terry Blanchette’s co-workers were greeting the arrest and Hailey’s continued absence with a sense of foreboding.
“I think it’s wonderful they made an arrest but none of us are doing very good,” said a woman staffer, who wouldn’t give her name.
The woman, who said she knew both Terry and Hailey, added “nobody has any clue whatsoever why this would happen...Terry’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met.”
