UPDATED: RCMP confirm body of two year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette found in rural area near Blairmore
By Nelson Daily Staff
In a media release Tuesday night, RCMP said investigators have found what they believe to be the body of two year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette in a rural area near Blairmore, Alberta.
The body was located Tuesday afternoon during a police search based on information received in their efforts to locate her.
The Dunbar-Blanchette family has been notified.
“The RCMP extends its deepest condolences to Hailey’s family. This is a sad day for the citizens of Blairmore and all Canadians who have held this little girl in their thoughts and prayers since Monday,” said RCMP Superintendent Tony Hamori, Assistant District Officer in Southern Alberta.
“We can’t say much about the investigation at this point, other than to thank the public and the media for helping us find Hailey.”
The male suspect who was arrested in Blairmore earlier today remains in police custody for questioning in relation to the investigation into the homicide of Hailey’s father, Terry Blanchette, and her disappearance.
Hamori said charges are pending.
Police will provide the identity of the suspect after charges are laid in these matters.
Hamori said police are no longer asking for the public’s assistance in locating the white van that was seen near the Blanchette home in the early hours of Monday morning. The Amber Alert issued in relation to Hailey’s disappearance is no longer in effect.
Anyone with information that might assist police in these investigations is asked to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers with information at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
The residents in Blairmore are in a state of shock after RCMP victims services confirmed at a public vigil Tuesday night the remains of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette have been found.
RCMP also announced the Amber Alert, issued Monday had been dropped.
Major media outlets have been told the remains of the two-year-old toddler were found close to the town of Blairmore, Alberta.
RCMP reported earlier in the day that a 22-year-old man was taken into custody in relation to the girl’s disappearance as well as the homicide investigation of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette father, 27-year-old Terry Blanchette.
Blanchette’s body was found inside the family home Monday.
Blairmore is a small community in the Rocky Mountains within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass in southwest Alberta, minutes from the BC Alberta border.
RCMP arrest suspect in Blairmore homicide; AMBER ALERT continues
RCMP said they have arrested a suspect in the homicide of Terry Blanchette, age 27, who was found dead in his Blairmore, Alberta, home Monday morning.
RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks said in a media release the 22-year-old suspect is a resident of Blairmore, but did not release the name due to investigational considerations.
“He is now in police custody for questioning in relation to the Blanchette homicide and the disappearance of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, age two, who was abducted from her father’s home at 3:30 a.m. yesterday morning,” Cpl. Franks said.
“The investigation into the child’s whereabouts is ongoing.”
Franks said police have located a white van in the Blairmore area and are in the process of determining if it is related to the incident under investigation.
“It is too soon for police to know if this is the van that was reportedly seen near the Blanchett home early Monday morning,” Franks explained.
Franks said the Amber Alert issued in relation to the disappearance of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette remans in effect.
Franks said anyone with information that might assist police is asked to call Crowsnest Pass RCMP at 403-562-2866.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers with information at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Amber Alerts expire 24-hours after they are issued. The RCMP will be renewing this Amber Alert at 2:14 p.m. today and is asking the jurisdictions of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Montana to do the same.
The RCMP was in contact with Hailey’s mother Cheyenne Dunbar about the investigation prior to the Amber Alert being issued.
RCMP in the Crowsnest continuing AMBER ALERT
RCMP in the Crowsnest are continuing Tuesday the Amber Alert for a missing two-year-old female child abuducted Monday, September 14 at 3:30 a.m. Mountain Time from the town of Blairmore, in southwest Alberta.
RCMP said the child abducted is, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette.
Dunbar-Blanchette is a caucasian female child, small build, light brown, straight hair with bangs, and brown eyes.
Dunbar-Blanchette was abducted by an unknown person.
The suspect vehicle, fled the residence west, at a high rate of speed. The vehicle is described as a newer model white van, with a large rear antenna, with a flag attached.
Crowsnest RCMP continue Amber Alert, now deal with homicide
RCMP in Crowsnest Pass are now dealing with a homicide after a finding a deceased male in a Blairmore home Monday morning.
Police were called to a residence in the town of Blairmore by a family member just after 11:15 a.m.
The deceased has been identified as 27-year-old, Terry Blanchette of Blairmore, Alta.
He is the biological father of Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, who was abducted from the home at 3:30 a.m. MT Monday.
The RCMP remains on the scene and have called in the Southern Serious Crimes Branch investigators.
RCMP Investigators have confirmed the death is suspicious and are now investigating this as a homicide.
This homicide investigation is related to the disappearance of two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, subject of an Amber Alert earlier today.
The Amber Alert spans Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Montana.
Crowsnest RCMP issue Amber Alert
Crowsnest Pass RCMP has issued an AMBER Alert, for the abduction of a female child Monday, September 14 at 3:30 a.m. Mountain Time from the town of Blairmore, in southwestAlberta.
RCMP said the child abducted is, Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette, age two.
Dunbar-Blanchette is a caucasian female child, small build, light brown, straight hair with bangs, and brown eyes.
Dunbar-Blanchette was abducted by an unknown person.
The suspect vehicle, fled the residence west, at a high rate of speed. The vehicle is described as a newer model white van, with a large rear antenna, with a flag attached.
RCMP said anyone seeing Dunbar-Blanchette of the white van shoudl not approach the suspect.
Instead, contact the Crowsnest Pass RCMP 403-562-2866.
Story source originated at The Nelson Daily.
