Search for Samuel Bird: New information leads police to wooded area 160km west of Edmonton

Edmonton police say new information from the past day — which led to a larger understanding of the “totality of evidence” — helped significantly narrow the search area for missing Indigenous teenager Samuel Bird, who authorities believe is dead.

The search for Bird, the 14-year-old who was last seen June 1 in Edmonton, is now focused on Carrot Creek, a largely wooded and agricultural area about 160 kilometres west of Alberta’s capital. The new search area, where authorities believe Samuel’s body was abandoned and concealed, is on the very edge of a previously much larger search area.

Edmonton Police Service Det. Jared Buhler would not reveal what “compelling information” led police to Carrot Creek “for investigative reasons,” but it was significant enough to immediately alter the search.

“It’s like doing a puzzle,” Det. Buhler told reporters in Carrot Creek. “Sometimes you don’t know the piece you’re looking for until other pieces fall into place around it, and that’s what’s unfolded this week. Yesterday, we were further down the road than we were today, and just our information and analysis with recent information brought us here. As I said, it was compelling. It was compelling enough to immediately send our canines to this location from the other location.

“And this is worth our best shot now.”

Police say professional searchers, cadaver dogs, civilian dogs trained in human searches and drones are all contributing to the effort.

“We believe efforts were made to conceal Samuel’s body from discovery, but that little time was available,” Buhler said.

“The primary search is going to be just boots on the ground, land searchers. We believe we’re looking for remains at this point, and so that really requires close up and experienced searchers who are trained in detection of human remains.

“We’re looking for potentially very small items. Unfortunately, it may be bones at this point. Given the time that’s passed, it’s been four months through the summer, and unfortunately, that’s just the science of it.”

RELATED: Family of missing Edmonton teen Samuel Bird pushes to expand search before winter

That’s one of the reasons authorities are telling civilian search parties to stand down — for the time being.

“No offence to the people who have been out there beating the bush up to this point, but we want to take the first crack at this with the pros, and so that we can take all the necessary forensic precautions,” said Det. Buhler, who at the same time praised the search efforts led by Samuel’s family. “If we’re not successful, then we fully expect that the more boots on the ground, the better.

“It’s important to remember this is still a huge area. We’re looking for still a needle in a smaller haystack than where we were before.”

The groups participating in the search are: Parkland Search and Rescue (PSAR), Search and Rescue Dog Association of Alberta (SARDAA) and Edmonton Regional Search and Rescue Association (ERSARA).

Samuel was last seen on surveillance video June 1 at 8:30 p.m. walking through the grounds of Holy Cross School near 151 Street and 104 Avenue. He then went to a friend’s house at 150 Street and 106 Avenue, police say, where he was last seen.

Authorities are treating Samuel’s four-month long disappearance as suspicious, and believe his possible death may be criminal in nature. Police say there are suspects, but there have been no arrests.

Typical offender behaviour

Based on what police are describing as “offender behaviour,” they say it’s likely any potential remains would be found in a wooded area offering concealment to the offender or offenders, outside of the sight line of occupied locations but still accessible in darkness. They add disposal areas are typically within 50 to 100 feet of roadways or trails.

“I note that there are relatively few vehicle exits along the Yellowhead corridor in this area, and believe the offender or offenders would unlikely have travelled a significant distance from Yellowhead Trail prior to disposing of Samuel’s body,” Buhler said.

Edmonton police are urging landowners to search their properties and any adjacent areas of interest before the winter.

“There’s no guarantees that we’re going to find Samuel here, unfortunately, but we have not lost hope as an investigative team, nor has the family,” Buhler said. “And I know that we’re committed to working together to bring this home; whether it’s today, tomorrow, this week or next spring, this is not going away. We will investigate this to the end. I assure you that the people responsible for this will be held accountable.”

The Canora neighbourhood duplex where Samuel was last seen was searched by police on Sept. 18. Firefighters and police were called to that same home in the early hours of Sept. 29 for a fire.

Buhler could not provide additional details on that fire beyond saying it remains “highly suspicious.”