AUSTIN, Man. — The tragic end to the search for a little Manitoba boy this weekend has "completely devastated" the child's family, according to a statement released on their behalf.
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection issued the release on behalf of the family of two-year-old Chase Martens, whose body was located in a creek on Saturday near the family's rural home.
The release says the family wants to express their heartfelt gratitude to RCMP, the provincial fire commissioner and community volunteers who took part in the search.
It ends by saying the family seeks privacy as they grieve with their young children.
The search involved hundreds of people on foot and horseback, driving ATVs and in the air, after the boy was last seen Tuesday playing in the yard of the family's home near Austin.
Police say an autopsy will be conducted, but there were no obvious signs of foul play in the death.
