UPDATE: Frank Young located deceased – READ MORE
The search for missing five-year-old Frank Young is now into its third week.
Red Earth Cree Nation Chief Fabian Head made a plea for volunteers to aid search efforts and provide some relief for those already on the ground looking for the boy on foot.
In the 22 days since Young’s disappearance, the search effort, including 200 volunteers and 13 search crews, has covered about 92 square kilometres.
“We continue to be hopeful,” Chief Head said on Tuesday morning during an online media conference.
He said volunteers have worked long hours on ground searches and along the river.
Young was last seen at the family’s home on Red Earth Cree Nation around 12:30 p.m. on April 19. An eyewitness report placed him at the local playground at 2:30 p.m. that day.
The search has focused on an area south of the home and on the river.
RCMP have had five to eight boat patrols on the Carrot River at any given time, said Sgt. Richard Tonge, officer in charge of the Carrot River RCMP detachment.
Heavy rains this past weekend forced searchers off the river, he said.
No formal ground searches have been conducted in the towns of Nipawin or Carrot River, which Tonge attributed to their distance from Red Earth. Carrot River is approximately 60 kilometres away, while Nipawin is approximately 80 kilometres away.
When asked about the possibility of abduction, Tonge told media that tips have been investigated and discounted.
“We’re always prepared to follow up on any other information, but we don’t have any evidence of an abduction and it is something that we still consider,” he said.
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No Amber Alert was issued. RCMP previously said the criteria for an Amber Alert had not been met.
Young’s family is considering making a statement, Shoal Lake Cree Nation Chief Marcel Head said, but when he spoke to them earlier in the day, they expressed “a level of frustration.”
Young is described as four feet tall and approximately 66 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing Paw Patrol rubber boots, green pyjamas and a navy blue windbreaker-style jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 in an emergency or the Carrot River RCMP at 306-768-1200.
