UPDATE March 25: Chase Martens still missing, RCMP send out drones to help with search Friday
The parents of missing two-year-old Chase Martens spoke out for the first time Wednesday begging for anyone with any information to come forward.
“Chase has vanished without a trace,” Thomas Martens, Chase’s dad said. “Anyone with information, please find it in your hearts to come forward and do the right thing…if someone has our son, please bring him home.”
An RCMP underwater recovery team arrived in Austin, Manitoba Wednesday to help with the search for the missing two-year-old.
It’s day three of the search for the toddler and trained divers will scour creeks and ponds in hopes of finding clues.
“The search radius is expanding. Bodies of water will be the focus of the search efforts today,” said Manitoba RCMP spokesman Bert Paquet Thursday.
“It’s unlike our son to wander off our property and if he did he’d always have our dog with him,” Chase’s father said Wednesday afternoon. “We are overwhelmed with the support we have, with how the community has come together.”
On Thursday afternoon, RCMP started sending out drones, to help search the area.
WATCH: Global’s SkyView1 captures the search efforts Thursday afternoon
On Wednesday night, trained searchers combed through bushes and fields looking for clues. The search, which lasted until around 4 a.m., came up empty handed.
WATCH: RCMP expand the search for Chase Martens, 2, who has been missing since Tuesday
Foul play is not ruled out, but is not the focus of the investigation, Paquet said.
WATCH: Volunteer searchers show up at the scene in Austin, Man. in hopes of helping RCMP
Officers “remain hopeful” as the search continues. However, Paquest said he expects there will be less search volunteers Thursday, as it’s the long weekend and people may be away.
“Keep Chase in your thoughts, it’s what we are asking people to do,” said Paquest. “It’s a plea for information.”
RCMP said this is not an amber alert because there hasn’t been a “confirmed abduction.”
READ MORE: Hundreds searching for Chase Martens, missing 2-year-old Manitoba boy
Here is a timeline of what we know so far:
Tuesday 6 p.m.
Chase was last seen playing outside near his house in the western Manitoba community. He was wearing a blue jacket, red hat, black splash pants and boots that light up when he walks.
A search began that evening and carried through the night.
With the wind chill, it felt like -15 C overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
Wednesday morning
Around 500 people on horseback, ATVs and on foot combed the fields, bush and farmyards searching for the two-year-old. Winnipeg’s Bear Clan Patrol also joined the search efforts.
RCMP say it has enough resources involved in the search and do not want volunteers. The Austin fire department and Air1 from the Winnipeg Police Service help in the search.
Wednesday evening
RCMP look or Chase in the dark until 4 a.m.
Temperatures in the area fell to around -5C overnight.
Searchers come up empty handed.
Thursday morning
The search for Chase started around 9 a.m. and RCMP gave an update to the media at 11 a.m.
The search effort expands from a 1.5 km radius to 3.5 km, using an underwater team, drones and police K9 unit. The police’s forensic collision reconstruction crew also arrives on scene.
Thursday evening
The parents of Chase Martens speak to the media and ask for anyone with any information to come forward.
Searchers continue into the dark.
The temperatures are expected to dip below 0 C overnight.
WATCH: Search for Chase Martens continues
Chase Martens family released a statement Wednesday afternoon:
Our Son, Chase, has been missing since March 22nd. It is unlike our son to wonder off of our property, and if he ever, went anywhere, he would always have our dog with him.
Chase has vanished without a trace. We are still looking for answers or any information that can help bring our son home.
Anyone with information, please find it in your heart to do the right thing and come forward. Any information is helpful. If someone has our son, please bring him home. We won’t be angry. We will be forgiving and grateful. We are devastated to have our son taken from us. We, Chase’s mom and I (dad) his two big sisters pray every moment that Chase is safe.
We are overwhelmed with the support we have and how the community has come together to help us find Chase, but again any information is helpful. Please come forward if you know anything.
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