**Update 11:30 a.m. March 28th

R-C-M-P say an autopsy has confirmed that a Manitoba boy who went missing last week drowned.

Chase Martens walked away from his family home near Austin last Tuesday, prompting an extensive search involving hundreds of people.

The two-year-old's body was found in a creek on Saturday.

His parents and other family members too part in a vigil last night on the shore of the creek where the boy's body was found.

 

**Update 5:52 p.m. March 26th

RCMP revealed in a news conference this afternoon there were no obvious signs of foul play in the death of Chase Martens.

The body of the two year old was found in a creek Saturday afternoon, he'd been missing since early Tuesday evening.

While RCMP are not looking into foul play, a spokesperson did say investigators would be working to determine exactly how the boy died. Police did say is appears the boy walked away from his front yard.

An autopsy will be performed Sunday.

 

** Update 2:55 p.m. March 26th

RCMP announced Saturday afternoon, just before 3 p.m., the body of two year old Chase Martens had been found.  RCMP confirmed the body of the young boy, who had been missing since Tuesday evening, was found earlier Saturday. No further information has been released at this time. RCMP are holding a media conference at 5:30 p.m. where it's expected further details will be announced.

 

The search for two year old Chase Martens continues north of Austin.

**UPDATE: 5:57 p.m., March 24

After two days of searching for Chase Martens in a perimeter area now doubled, his father Thomas Martens addressed media in a brief conference, with Chase's mother Destiny Turner.

"Our son Chase has been missing since March 22nd. It's unlike our son to wander off our property. And if he did, he would always have our dog with him. Chase has vanished without a trace. We are asking for answers or any information that can help bring our son home. * We are overwhelmed with the support we have and how the community has come together to help us find Chase. Anyone with information please find it in your hearts to do the right thing and come forward. Any information is helpful. If someone has our son, please bring him home. We won't be angry. We will be forgiving and grateful. We are devastated to have our son taken from us. Mom, Dad and Chase's two big sisters pray every moment that Chase is safe. Again, any information is helpful Please come forward if you know anything at all."

RCMP Inspector Rick Head was present and adds, "If anybody has any information, of course, they can call the RCMP at any time."

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**UPDATE: 5:19 p.m., March 24

The parents of two year old Chase Martens fought back tears as they called for assistance in the search for their son.  In a brief press conference they asked for anyone with information to contact RCMP.  Father Thomas Martens also made a plea, in the event his son was taken, for Chase's safe return. Chase Martens was last seen in the family's yard Tuesday at 6:00 p.m.

 

**UPDATE: 1:10 p.m., March 24

Sergeant Bert Paquet gave these words to media today.

"Yesterday at some point we had volunteers from 15 different fire departments, three local Hutterite colonies, and military from Shilo. Winnipeg Police Service deployed dogs, cadets as well as Air 1 support. Dogs were also provided by the RCMP dog team as well as the Dakota Ojibway Police Service. At some point over 500 searchers were involved yesterday looking for Chase."

Overnight searchers continued until 4:00 a.m. at which time they got some sleep. They returned again later.

Paquet says they also wish to thank the office of the Fire Commissioner for the command post, logisitics and their expertise and resources. And he thanks the communities for their ongoing support. He adds those who can't be in the field can keep Chase in their thoughts as they move forward and continue the search.

 

 **UPDATE: 12:55 p.m., March 24

Volunteers came out today to help in the search.  One of them was Michelle Richards from Portage la Prairie. Richards shares why she volunteered.

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Kim and Michelle Richards join the search today"There's a child missing and I've got a three year old at home. I couldn't honestly imagine what the parents are going through. And just like everybody else that's out here helping, I'm sure they just want to find this boy safe, and do everything they can to help. I'm just hoping that this boy is found safe. Anything I can do -- I would do anything to help a child."

Richards describes what it feels like  "It's gut wrenching for me. So, like I said, I couldn't imagine what the family's feeling. Any child that's out there... I mean it's still cold temperatures. It's a lot of land and a lot of brush. There's so much around, you never know. There's a highway close by. It's scary. And for him to just be gone, it's terrifying."

Michelle's mother Kim joined the search as well, and explains what inspired her to help.

"I'm a grandma. This is the first opportunity we've had to get out here and it's been sickening since we heard the news. It was posted online that they were needing more volunteers for today. Now, I haven't seen an update since I started getting ready to come out here. And we're hoping to get over there and find out right now for sure."

 

**UPDATE: 12:35 p.m., March 24

RCMP Sergeant. Bert Paquet spoke these words in a press conference today.

"We're here to provide an update in the search for Chase. The overnight search continued with trained searchers only. They were focused in higher probability areas, is what they referred to. About 100 searchers yesterday were sent home at dusk with an invite to come back today. Most of them did. Today the search will expand from the 1.5 km it was yesterday and basically double in size."

Paquet adds that includes water, rivers, creeks and ponds. He notes the same agencies are involved again today and are joined with the RCMP Underwater Recovery team today. Paquet says social media provided amazing support, a medium for spreading the word, as well as a means by which they asked about any location where Chase might be found.

 

**UPDATE: 11:55 a.m., March 24

The search for two year old Chase Martens continues north of Austin. RCMP Sgt. Bert Paquet provided an update on their efforts today. While yesterday's investigation focused on fields and the wooded areas, they've now called in underwater ice teams to search the creeks ponds and other bodies of water. Paquet notes RCMP have not issued an Amber Alert, as that measure is reserved for confirmed cases of abduction. They're still open to all aspects of investigation, but Paquet says foul play is not their main focus. Martens was last seen Tuesday at approximately 6:00 pm.

 

**UPDATE: 8 p.m.**, March 23

Volunteers and rescue workers continued their search into the evening. The Winnipeg Police helicopter was also on scene into the evening, landed twice, but proceeded to take off only minutes after to continue cirlcling the area. Food is being provided to the volunteers by a couple Hutterite Colonies in the area, and donations of coffee, drinks, or snacks are welcomed by the volunteers.

 

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**UPDATE: 6:11 p.m.**

Firefighters, police officers, EMS workers, search and rescue crews and about 300 volunteers continue to comb the area around the Martens' family farm, as they search for missing two year-old Chase Martens. The young boy is described as about two-and-a-half feet tall, weighing about 30 pounds, with light brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black splash pants, a red hat, and boots that lit up as he walked.

Martens was last seen playing at the family's farm, about a kilometre west of Highway 34, between Austin and Gladstone. Police and family members immediately began their search, with police putting out a call to the public early this morning.

 

 

The search for two year old Chase Martens continues north of Austin.

He was last seen Tuesday night around 6:00pm in the family's year. Hundreds of volunteers showed up from as far away as Shilo and are taking part in the search.

The province has asked for no more volunteers at this time. RCMP are expected to provide an update shortly.

 

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