Timeline of a tragedy
- Details
- Published on Thursday, March 31, 2016
Photo by John Dietz. Hundreds of volunteers combed the fields around Chase Martens’ home, looking for the missing two-year-old.
Banner Staff
The Neepawa Banner
A family and community has had its chance to say goodbye to Chase Martens. A funeral service for the two-year-old, who had gone missing the previous week, was held on March 30 at the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church in MacGregor, MB. The youngster’s body was found on March 26, after a massive search effort began on March 22.
Tuesday, March 22, 6:00 p.m.
Portage la Prairie RCMP received a report of a missing 2-year-old boy. Chase Martens was last seen at approximately 6:00 pm that evening playing outside near his family’s residence north of Austin in the RM of North Norfolk.
Wednesday, March 23, 12:40 p.m.
Hundreds of volunteers have showed up to assist with the search for Chase. The RCMP has asked for no more volunteers at this time.
Wednesday, March 23, 8:30 a.m.
As of 8:30 am on March 23, Chase Martens is still missing. The boy is described as 2.5 feet tall, 30 lbs, blue eyes, light brown hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black splash pants, a red hat and boots that light up as he walks.
Officers supported by Police Dog Services, volunteers from the Austin Fire Department and Air One from the Winnipeg Police Service have been out actively searching since the report was received.
Over 200 searchers were involved in efforts overnight to locate the missing boy and the search continued through the morning.
Wednesday, March 23, 1:47 p.m.
During a media update on the scene Wednesday morning, RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Bert Paquet said that upon being notified that Chase was missing, “Officers immediately engaged in a search, supported by police dog services, volunteers from several local fire departments including Austin Fire Department. Air One from the Winnipeg Police Service and the RCMP air service airplane as well, have been out actively looking for Chase since yesterday evening and continue to do so today,” said Paquet. “There are over 300 searchers, as we speak, looking for Chase. We’re asking anyone with information to immediately contact their police jurisdiction with any information, no matter how insignificant it may appear. We’re looking for any tip that will help us bring Chase home.”
Thursday, March 24, 11:00 a.m.
After another night of combing area fields and brush, searchers came up empty in the their efforts to find missing two-year-old, Chase Martens.
Sgt. Bert Paquet, said that at one point on March 23, over 500 volunteers were participating in the search. At dusk on March 23, about 100 volunteers were sent home, with only trained search and rescue personnel participating in the overnight search. Many of those volunteers returned this morning.
Paquet explained that the search area has increased from a 1.5 km radius around the Martens’ home, north of Austin, to 3 km. He added that the Underwater Recovery Team has been deployed to conduct a more thorough search of the bodies of water in the area, which include creeks and ponds. The team includes trained divers.
To date, there has been no physical evidence found of the missing child. Paquet said, “We remain hopeful,” but added that they are open to all possibilities.
On March 23, with the help of 15 different fire departments, three Hutterite Colonies, the Winnipeg Police Service, RCMP, personnel from CFB Shilo, DOPS and community volunteers, Paquet said that most of the land in the area has been searched.
Paquet asked the greater community to keep Chase in their thoughts and pleaded for information, no matter how insignificant it might seem. “We’ve solved similar cases with information that at one time seemed insignificant,” he said.
Paquet said that their immediate concern is to answer the question, “Where is Chase?”.
Thursday, March 24, 5:00 p.m.
Just shy of 48 hours after Chase Martens went missing from his family’s yard, the two-year-old’s parents issued a public plea. Father Thomas and mother Destiny were visibly distraught speaking to the assembled media. Thomas Martens choked back tears as he urged anyone with information to contact the police, “If someone has our son, please bring him home. We won’t be angry, we’ll be forgiving and grateful.”
Martens explained that it was unlike his son to wander, adding that wherever he went, he always had dogs with him. “We are looking for answers, for any information that can bring him home,” Thomas said.
As searchers finish a second full day of combing the area around the family’s home in search of the boy, Thomas thanked the community for its support. “We are overwhelmed with the support,” he said.
As the search prepares to enter its third night, Thomas said, “[The family] is praying every moment that Chase is safe.”
Saturday, March 26, 2:56 p.m.
The RCMP confirms that the body of two-year-old Chase Martens was found earlier in the day.
His body was found in a creek 0.5 km from his house.
Sunday, March 27
An autopsy on Chase Martens was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Results have confirmed that Chase's death was the result of drowning.
In a release, the family expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the RCMP, Manitoba Fire Commissioner and the caring and generous community volunteers who searched around the clock for Chase. While they are completely heartbroken, they have been overwhelmed by the love and kindness our community has shown their family.
Wednesday, March 30, 2:00 p.m.
A funeral service was held for Chase Martens at the Sommerfeld Mennonite Church in MacGregor, Manitoba.
