The search for a missing two-year-old boy in Manitoba ended on it’s fifth day as RCMP announced his body was found on Saturday.
Chase Martens went missing Tuesday from his farm near Austin, Man. roughly 120 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
READ MORE: Hundreds searching for Chase Martens, missing 2-year-old Manitoba boy
Hundreds of volunteers joined police in scouring the area surrounding his home.
Here is at look at the events since Chase Martens disappeared.
Tuesday – March 22
Chase was last seen playing outside of his home around 6 p.m. CT in Austin, a rural community in western Manitoba.
RCMP say he was last seen wearing a blue jacket, red hat, black splash pants and boots that light up as he walks. He is described as 2.5 feet tall, roughly 30 punds, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
WATCH: Search is underway for missing two-year-old
RCMP are urging anyone travelling in the area of Highway 34 and Austin to be on the lookout for the toddler and to contact their local police department if they notice anything.
Temperatures dropped to -15 C overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
Wednesday – March 23
A massive search is in full swing for the missing two-year-old with hundreds of volunteers, police, and search and rescue officials looking for the Chase. Winnipeg’s Beat Clan Patrol join the search efforts.
“Our only priority is to find Chase,” Manitoba RCMP spokesman Sgt. Bert Paquet told reporters near Austin, Man. “We are talking, as far as we know, of a little 2 year old boy out playing and that all of a sudden is not there anymore.”
-
![]()
Search efforts intensify for missing 2-year-old boy -
![]()
‘Pray’: RCMP on ways public can help in search of missing 2-year-old boy -
![]()
RCMP say 2-year-old was last seen playing outside -
![]()
RCMP asking for public’s help in search of missing 2-year-old Manitoba boy -
![]()
Raw: Ongoing search for missing 2-year-old Manitoba boy
There are few details about the boy’s disappearance. Authorities say an Amber Alert was not issued as there is no evidence Chase was abducted.
Chase’s great-aunt Wanda Thomas said he was playing with the family dog outside before he vanished.
“We just want to find him alive,” Thomas told Global News. “I can’t imagine him spending the night out there by himself and it was so cold.”
The search now involves 300 people on horseback, ATVs and on foot as they comb through fields, bush and farmyards in the desperate search.
Thursday – March 24
The distraught parents of Chase make an emotional public plea for any information that might help find their missing son.
“It is unlike our son to wander off of our property, and, if he ever went anywhere, he would always have our dog with him,” Martens said reading through tears from a prepared statement with his wife at his side. “Anyone with information, please find it in your hearts to do the right thing and come forward.
“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.”
The search has entered day three with trained divers scouring creeks and ponds looking in the hope of finding any trace of the young boy.
“The search radius is expanding. Bodies of water will be the focus of the search efforts today,” Manitoba RCMP spokesman Bert Paquet told reporters.
The RCMP have also deployed drones in the search that officials have said is a “race against time.”
READ MORE: How police are using drones in the search for Chase Martens and other missing people
Paquet says officers “remain hopeful” as the search continues but have not ruled out foul play.
Friday – March 25
The search for the missing Manitoba toddler is enters day four on Good Friday.
Chase has been missing for more than 60 hours and RCMP say that due to the Easter weekend and poor highway conditions there are fewer volunteers to help in the search.
READ MORE: Chase Martens still missing, RCMP send out drones to help with search Friday
The search was suspended overnight but resumed 9 a.m. CT with RCMP continuing to use drones to map the area around the Martens home.
Photos showed volunteers and police scouring through snow covered fields Friday. As of 11 a.m. CT the temperature is hovering around -6 C.
PHOTO GALLERY: Searchers look for Chase Martens
Saturday – March 26
The body of Chase Martens is found.
RCMP made the announcement on Twitter at 2:45 p.m. CT.
So far there are no details on where the body was found.
Mounties will release more information at a news conference at 5:30 p.m. CT that will be live streamed on this page.
*With files from Katie Dangerfield and Rebecca Joseph.
Comments