CANADA Samuel Bird, 14, Edmonton AB, last seen in West Edmonton - June 1, 2025

[otto]

I believe that his ex girlfriend lived in the house, and she was also a minor. There are likely adults that also lived there.

That sounds very sad if a 14 year old girl was involved, and she remained silent while someone she cared about was killed and transported out of the city by her relatives. I hope she is currently in government care and that she is receiving appropriate mental health treatment.

Did his mother know his girlfriend and follow up, or did she believe that he vanished off the street without any connection to a family friend?

 

[otto]

The family friend lived very close to where Samuel lived, so I'm guessing that would be one of the first people his family contacted after he was missing. I'm trying to understand the scenario ... are the families friends, or only the children?

He visited a friend on the way home, and was murdered. That friend and her family then hid his body in a field West of the city.

Police used CCTV to identify the last location where Samuel was seen alive. After police searched that property, where he was most likely murdered, the property was set on fire ... presumably to hide blood evidence?

Why would anyone murder a 14 year old child who was visiting his friend? I'm very curious whether there is some connection with drugs - perhaps he saw something he shouldn't see? Nothing makes sense at this point ... seems so random.

Google Map: approximate locations

"Investigators are now releasing that Samuel was last seen on surveillance video at approximately 8:30 p.m. on June 1, 2025, walking through the grounds of Holy Cross School near 151 Street and 104 Avenue, after which he attended the residence of a friend in the area of 150 Street and 106 Avenue, where he was last seen"

Samuel Bird's disappearance deemed criminal

 

[otto]

I would like to hear more about the suspect(s), how they fit into "missing and murdered Indigenous children and youth," and where the system has failed in protecting 14 year old Samuel.

We know that he was visiting a friend. That was the last time he was seen alive. We don't know why he was murdered, nor who was involved. I'm curious why there have been no arrests. Don't police know who was living at the house where Samuel was last seen? Don't they know the name of the friend?

"Bird's mother thanked volunteers and those who have been there for her family during the "darkest time of [her] life."

"We stand here in the shadow of a much larger injustice, the ongoing crisis of our missing and murdered Indigenous children and youth," Alanna said.

"This is not just about Samuel. This is about the systems that continue to fail our families and a silence that too often surrounds our pain."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/indigenous-teen-s-disappearance-now-deemed-criminal-by-edmonton-police-1.7648515

"Investigators believe that the suspect or suspects involved in Samuel’s disappearance may have disposed of his body no more than 150 km from Edmonton, and that this occurred within a short time of his disappearance on June 1, 2025."

Samuel Bird's disappearance deemed criminal

 

[bombardier]

I would like to hear more about the suspect(s), how they fit into "missing and murdered Indigenous children and youth," and where the system has failed in protecting 14 year old Samuel.

(snipped by me) I'm sorry, I don't know if I understand...Samuel's mother was referring to Samuel himself was talking about MMI children and youth, not the suspects.
As to the 'system that fails our families', I know plenty of Edmontonians were confused as to why it took four months for the investigation to really ramp up and be declared criminal, when that video of a youth (assumed to be samuel but never has been confirmed by LE) being viciously beaten was sent to his mum immediately. Not only did this lead to a delay in searching for evidence and remains, but it made it so the police didn't have to participate in those early searches led only by family.
As for the system failing to protect Samuel...it's so complicated, I don't know behind the scenes, all I know if as per mum Sam had fallen in with the wrong crowd to fit in and had dropped out of the end of grade 9. He was about to enter an intervention program but it hadn't started yet. Perhaps the school wasnt supporting or treating Sam well, didn't help when he was bullied when he was younger, or supports weren't available earlier when he started changing and skipping school.

 

[guttertroll]

I do believe Samuel's mother was referring to her son and not the suspects with her statement about the crisis. A missing 14 year old should not have gone through the month before being publicized. Is there 'proof' (ie: someone saying such) that him being indigenous was part of that? No. Do I think had this happened to a white teenager, this would have been followed up on sooner and publicized? Personally, yes. The police release says they were following up on sightings of him, it still took until July 11th for them to put anything out, while Samuel's mother was receiving video of what she believes to be her son being viciously assaulted as well as the video being put online in more than one space. Police in this city (and in Canada overall) have often ignored missing (and murdered) indigenous people and I personally believe had Samuel's mother not been interviewed and put forward her story more, this could've slipped through the cracks.

Looking up facts about missing people overall in Canada in 2024:

The overall number of persons who went missing decreased by 4% in 2024, from 70,168 occurrences in 2023 to 67,611 in 2024, bringing the total number to 8% lower than it was pre-COVID (i.e. 2019).

23% of missing children/youth in 2024 were Indigenous and 67% of all missing Indigenous children/youth were female
12% of all missing adults in 2024 were Indigenous and 59% of all missing Indigenous adults were female

Indigenous people make up about 5% of the population of Canada (per 2021). Often times, there are no alerts, they are moved to the bottom of the pile and the police move on, while their families are left questioning more than ever. I would definitely say these numbers show there is a crisis.

 

[otto]

(snipped by me) I'm sorry, I don't know if I understand...Samuel's mother was referring to Samuel himself was talking about MMI children and youth, not the suspects.
As to the 'system that fails our families', I know plenty of Edmontonians were confused as to why it took four months for the investigation to really ramp up and be declared criminal, when that video of a youth (assumed to be samuel but never has been confirmed by LE) being viciously beaten was sent to his mum immediately. Not only did this lead to a delay in searching for evidence and remains, but it made it so the police didn't have to participate in those early searches led only by family.
As for the system failing to protect Samuel...it's so complicated, I don't know behind the scenes, all I know if as per mum Sam had fallen in with the wrong crowd to fit in and had dropped out of the end of grade 9. He was about to enter an intervention program but it hadn't started yet. Perhaps the school wasnt supporting or treating Sam well, didn't help when he was bullied when he was younger, or supports weren't available earlier when he started changing and skipping school.

My interpretation is that Samuel family made those remarks in relation to Samuel's disappearance - too many missing children; system failure.

We know now that police investigated right away and obtained CCTV footage. Based on that information, they discovered where Samuel was last seen alive. They then developed evidence to submit to the prosecutor's office so they could obtain a search warrant. It sounds like that took time - it always does.

Search warrants cannot be obtained simply because someone was last seen alive at someone's house.

Anyone who has raised a 14 year old knows there can be many challenges as the child learns that independence comes with responsibility. Some children choose independence, and can't be bothered with responsibility. It's challenging for most parents to keep children on track when they are that age.

Searches should be based on evidence. Police have released information about their searches, both at the home where he was last seen, and in the area where they believe he will be found. Searching random areas isn't something that police do, but family and friends may have ideas about where to search that are unrelated to evidence. Police should not be expected to participate in those searches.

 

[Bigditch]

I believe that his ex girlfriend lived in the house, and she was also a minor. There are likely adults that also lived there.

Why do you think Samuel's ex lived in the house in question?

 

[bombardier]

We know now that police investigated right away and obtained CCTV footage. Based on that information, they discovered where Samuel was last seen alive. They then developed evidence to submit to the prosecutor's office so they could obtain a search warrant. It sounds like that took time - it always does.

Search warrants cannot be obtained simply because someone was last seen alive at someone's house.

(snipped by me) you don't think that a video of a missing youth, consistent with Samuel, being kicked, beaten with objects, and threatened with a knife could yield a search warrant at his last known location sooner than 4 months post-disappearance?