Air, water, ground searches for missing boy continue into fourth day

The search for a five-year-old boy who went missing earlier this week entered its fourth day Friday.

Red Earth Cree Nation Chief Fabian Head said the search for Frank Young resumed Friday at 8 a.m. and will continue as long as is required to find the boy.

In his update, Head said a number of resources, personnel and equipment have been dispatched to the community and are being used in the search — something he, Young’s family and their community members are grateful for.

(Prince Albert Grand Council/Submitted)

Sonar, aerial, underwater and ground searches — comprising nine groups of volunteers — are continuing.

“Obviously … this is a very serious concern that we have a missing boy,” Head said, adding the Young family has been updated throughout the search.

“We appreciate any prayers. We ask for prayers to continue to come to Red Earth.”

RCMP Sgt. Richard Tonge of the Carrot River detachment said the search efforts in the Red Earth community have been incredible, and he acknowledged how everyone has come together so well to look for Young.

More than a dozen search and rescue groups from across Saskatchewan and Manitoba have joined in the search.

Multiple hours of aerial searches took place Thursday, using a high-resolution camera during the day and thermal imaging at night. The aerial search has expanded five kilometres beyond the Red Lake Cree Nation community at this time, Tonge said.

Tonge said some items of interest were located during those searches, with the technology picking up on things that were similar to the colour of the blue windbreaker Young was last seen wearing. Searchers picking up the items found Pepsi cans and water bottles with blue labels, but not the young boy.

Weather permitting, searches by air will continue Friday, Tonge said. He added drone searches and the RCMP’s underwater recovery team are also working in tandem with searches being carried out by the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC).

No police checkpoints have been set up at this time to monitor who is entering and leaving the Red Earth community, Tonge explained, though Red Earth has its own checkpoint set up.

Michelle Vandevord, PAGC associate director for Saskatchewan First Nation Emergency Management and president of the Prince Albert search, rescue and recovery team, said their team began assembling to join the search efforts after getting a call about the missing boy Tuesday.

By Wednesday morning, they had been deployed to work alongside search leads and the RCMP search manager.

(Prince Albert Grand Council/Submitted)

Vandevord said it is difficult to search for someone you know and love, and thanked volunteers from the Red Earth and Shoal Lake communities as well as the various communities, teams and individuals from other areas who have come to assist.

“I recognize that this is a difficult time for one of our member nations and we are committed to continuing on with this search and working to the best of our abilities until Frank is found,” Vandevord said.

Tonge noted an Amber Alert has not been sent out with regards to Young’s disappearance because the situation does not meet the requirements for such action, which require a child to have been confirmed abducted.

Shoal Lake Cree Nation Chief Marcel Head said he has received significant support from neighbouring communities interested in helping with the search for Young over the past few days. Shoal Lake’s own offices have shut down temporarily while staff help with the search and provide services for searchers.

“No leader wants this sort of thing to happen in their community,” said Head, who asked more people in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and beyond to contribute to the search for Young.

In addition to the missing five-year-old, the Red Earth community has grappled with three deaths this week. Fabian Head said the emotional toll has been overwhelming for the community and it will be seeking additional wellness support.

Anyone with information about Young is asked to call 911 or Carrot River RCMP.