The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) said a fifth person has been arrested in the Megan Gallagher investigation, and was charged with first degree murder.
Twenty-seven-year-old Robert James Thomas was arrested at a residence in Prince George, B.C., and officers said he will appear in Saskatoon Provincial Court later this week.
The SPS major crime section said further arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
SPS Deputy Chief Randy Huisman said they are also launching a search for Gallagher.
“A physical search of an area of the South Saskatchewan River, which investigators have identified as an area of interest,” Huisman said.
He added that this investigation was far from over.
SPS Staff Sgt. Grant Obst said there is a gang aspect to the investigation, and that the man has ties to Saskatoon.
Gallagher’s father, Brian, said finding out the news that another arrest was made was indescribable.
“The reality of all of this is none of this will ever bring Megan home. It will never bring Megan back. We will never hug Megan again, we will never laugh with Megan again, we’ll never see her pretty smile again,” Brian said.
“Megan was a very special soul.”
Monday was the two-year mark since Megan Gallagher went missing, and new information is still being found.
Police announced in January 2021 they were treating her disappearance as a homicide.
Four other people were charged with offering an indignity to human remains, but there are still no signs of Gallagher.
Gallagher was last seen on a surveillance camera at a Saskatoon convenience store back in 2020.
The second annual Megan’s Walk was held on Sunday in Saskatoon to raise awareness.