Saskatchewan RCMP have located a seven-year-old girl and her father, Michael Gordon Jackson, more than three months after the young Regina girl was last seen.
They say the duo was found earlier on Thursday at a business in Vernon, B.C., and that the arrest occurred without incident.
“The emotions that I saw from the general investigators. The emotions that I saw from our communications people — there were tears, there was relief. To put that into perspective of what Mariecar was feeling, I can’t imagine it. It had to be significant,” said lead investigator on the case Sgt. Maj. Darryl Bilo of the moment the news was shared with Sarah’s mother.
“When Saskatchewan RCMP investigators stand at this podium, often times we are not speaking about good news. This is the nature of the work we do. Today, we achieved the outcome we have been diligently working towards: reuniting (the girl) with her mom.”
Michael was charged with abduction in contravention of a custody or parenting order on Jan. 21 and now remains in police custody.
RCMP say a court date is likely to be set in Regina next week.
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Michael Gordon Jackson made an appearance on Live with Laura-Lynn on Rumble in early January where he told the host he was keeping his daughter because he did not want her to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Mariecar, though, has cast doubt on that motive as court records show that Michael has overheld their daughter during parenting visits in years past.
RCMP remained tight-lipped when asked for details about exactly how officers found the duo in Vernon.
Since charging Jackson, RCMP have released two videos to the public asking for help in locating the girl. Bilo said today that tips came in from “multiple provinces.”
RCMP also offered little explanation when asked why it took until January to charge Jackson when he first violated court-ordered parenting agreements back in November.
“That is information related to the investigation and not something I can discuss at this time,” Bilo said.
RCMP say Mariecar will be reunited with her daughter Thursday night.
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