Body of a child located during search

The body of a child has been located during today’s search for Parker. While we believe the child is likely Parker, significant efforts are required to access the body and confirm the identity. Recovery efforts are under way.

If the body is Parker’s, it is believed he entered a culvert in a green space on the west side of Deerfoot Trail and travelled up a pipe and into a network of tunnels on the east side of the roadway.

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, we received a tip from a member of the public who had located evidence consistent with the clothing Parker was last known to be wearing. Search teams deployed, and as a result, a child’s body was located by specialized search teams from the Calgary Fire Department.

This green space area contains incredibly harsh terrain and is part of a water environment. As with any search involving water, environmental conditions can influence what can be observed and when evidence may become visible.

During the past two weeks, we had conducted searches of the area for Parker, however, there was no evidence located that would suggest a more thorough search of the area was required.

This is not the outcome anyone hoped for. Like so many others, we hoped Parker would be brought home safely. Our thoughts are with Parker's family, loved ones and all those affected by this devastating loss. We know people across the world have spent the past 13 days sharing Parker's information, searching for him and holding onto hope for his safe return.

“Behind every search map, every briefing, every tip and every hour spent looking was a little boy who was deeply loved by his family,” says Chief Katie McLellan. “Today, we grieve alongside them and share in the profound sadness of this loss. Our thoughts are with Parker's family, loved ones, friends and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy.”

We extend our sincere gratitude to the thousands of community members, volunteers, partner agencies and members of the media who assisted in the search effort. The compassion, dedication and support shown throughout this investigation have been extraordinary.

At this time, there is no evidence that criminality was involved in Parker's disappearance.

Search operations are complex and are influenced by factors including terrain, vegetation, weather conditions, visibility and the information available to investigators at the time. While search teams worked extensively and thoroughly throughout this investigation, it is not always possible to completely eliminate every possibility within a broad-scale search area.

We recognize there may be questions about the circumstances of this case and the investigation remains ongoing to answer as many remaining questions as we can for Parker's family.

In cases where no criminality is involved, once a missing person has been located, we remove identifying information, including names and photographs, from public platforms. We do not typically share details about how or where a person was located or publicly disclose whether they were found safe or deceased, to respect the privacy of those affected. With the permission of Parker's family, we have shared information in this case that would not typically be released given the extensive public effort to help find him.

Parker's family is asking for privacy as they grieve the loss of their son.

Community members seeking support are encouraged to contact the Calgary Police Service Victim Assistance Support Team (VAST). VAST is a free service that provides support, resources and information to victims of crime and tragedy. VAST volunteers, trauma dogs and staff are available to provide information, referrals and emotional support to those affected by this incident. They can be reached at 403-428-8398 or toll-free at 1-888-327-7828.

We remain committed to understanding as much as we can about what occurred and providing those answers to his family wherever possible. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips

Case #: CA26318270/3955