Search continues but hope dimishing for Darius

By Lethbridge Herald on September 30, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Alberta RCMP and SAR Alberta continue the search for six-year-old Darius Macdougall Monday despite concerns that hopes of finding the boy alive are beginning to wane.

On Sunday afternoon, Cpl. Gina Slaney said that as they entered Day 7, searchers are not scaling back. 

“Our TSG officers are now on the ground doing a shoulder-to-shoulder search. These officers are trained to search for even the smallest piece of evidence,” said Slaney. 

She said they are re-searching the area where Darius was last believed to be, adding it’s essential that recreational drone users steer clear of the area.

“We want to stress to the public right now that recreational drones are prohibited in the search area. We actually have a NOTAM in place issued by issued by NAV Canada. If we have other things flying in the air that are not supposed to be there, that can actually inhibit our search efforts.”

RCMP, along with Alberta Search and Rescue and Victim Family Liaison Officers, met with the family of Darius Macdougall on Sunday morning and spoke about survivability concerns, considering the terrain, exposure to the elements and amount of time the search has taken so far.

“At the point we are at with regards to the search, the survivability is less than five per cent, so unfortunately, that conversation was had with the family today, and they understand how we come to that number.”

She said RCMP and Alberta Search and Rescue are dedicated to continuing with search efforts.

“The search continues and the RCMP and Alberta Search and Rescue continue to evaluate how resources will be deployed moving forward. Certain search tactics are changing,” said Slaney. 

She said the investigation is on going and will be ongoing until they find Darius. 

“We will thoroughly investigate every tip we receive,” said Slaney. 

Adam Kennedy, SAR Alberta spokesperson and Provincial training manager said on behalf of all SAR volunteers, that their thoughts are with Darius’s family at this very difficult time.

“SAR members and our partner agencies are continuing the search today. Given this unfortunate stage of the search, some tactics will be changed and ground search methods will be adjusted to reflect this,” said Kennedy. 

Approximately 200 personnel were on-scene Sunday, including approximately 100 SAR volunteers. 

“Surface and underwater search assets are also on-scene to search areas previously searched,” said Kennedy. 

There will be changes to tactics for previously engaged assets, such as air assets using infrared technology.

“It will change the use of some of the infrared technologies on the assumption that the infrared technologies won’t be picking up any heat signatures on the ground,” said Kennedy. 

Any time decisions like this are made, he said, there are multiple factors that go into it. 

“Everything from what Darius was wearing to his health status when he went missing, the terrain we’re dealing with, the weather on scene over the last few days, or over the last seven days, as well as a major statistical analysis.”

He added that SAR Alberta thanks its partners with the BC Search and Rescue Association and the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers for their continued assistance.