Search for James Candy to Resume
Michelle Pinon
News Advertiser
A national missing persons organization is set to begin a search for James Candy, a Two Hills area teenager who was reported missing on August 7, 2017.
Aimee Oliver, a member of the Alberta chapter of the Please Bring Me Home (PBMH) organization, said she and her fellow volunteers are currently in the preliminary stages of planning a search within the next couple of months.
“The area in which we are examining is vast and the landscape is quite diverse. We have all the information we now need, and the Canadian Canine Search Corps, (CCSC), is currently organizing a search effort. We are hoping for cooperation from any and all landowners in our respective areas of search, once that has been determined, we will be reaching out to the landowners. Alberta Please Bring me Home is organizing this search effort, but the search itself will be conducted by the CCSC. They have an amazing team, and we are very thankful they have decided to partner with us in Western Canada.
Oliver said the only people permitted on site during the search will be Karen Somerville and her team with the Canadian Canine Search Corps, (CCSC), as well as the RCMP if they choose. The less people around the better so the team can conduct this search as thoroughly as possible. I am currently in the process of seeking land ownership permissions for the area the CCSC has mapped out, which is the densely wooded areas located south east of the Candy home. The area they have chosen is quite large and they intend on carrying out a three day search. If nothing is found, we will plan a second search.”
She added, “We are asking the public and the media refrain from being on site during the search, however we will be available for statements if and when any evidence or James is located.”
Oliver pointed out that, “James Candy’s disappearance is different than most in regard to the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. He left a note indicating his intent, but left no trace of himself and no clue as to where he went. The majority of our cases involve mysterious or suspicious circumstances surrounding a disappearance.”
She went on to say, “James went to bed on August 6, when his parents went to wake him the morning of August 7, he was gone but had left a suicide note. His parents searched their property and found no sign of James. There was an extensive search conducted by the RCMP, four different Fire Departments, and the CCSC shortly after James disappeared, search dogs led the teams to a slough northwest of the Candy home, this slough was pumped at a later date and no evidence of James was found.
What I would like to add as a personal message to the readers, is if anyone has any information that may help us in our effort to locate James, please contact the Vegreville RCMP Detachment, myself at aoliver.pbmh@gmail.com, or leave an ANONYMOUS tip on our website. Any and all information is relevant, and even though you may think it isn’t, it may be the missing piece of this puzzle. James is loved and missed very much by his family, and we are doing everything we can to bring him home.”
Oliver said they are currently investigating five cases. The cases are listed in chronological order from most recent: Jordan Nahachick, reported missing December 12, 2018 from Peace River, AB. James Candy, reported missing August 7, 2017 from Minburn County. Dylan Koshman, reported missing October 11, 2008 from Edmonton, AB. Daniel Gualton, reported missing November 26, 1997 from the Grand Prairie area, AB. William Kwiatek, reported missing in July, 1988 from the Calgary area. Detailed information on each of these people can be found on our website. None of these cases have been solved to date, however there have been cases solved in Ontario by Please Bring me Home.
“Our mandate is to help locate missing persons in Canada. We are a diverse group of specialized and professional volunteers who for a variety of reasons have chosen to work with this organization. We aim to help the families of the missing by conducting investigations that will hopefully lead to the whereabouts of the missing or lead to the circumstances of their disappearance. We do not conduct formal criminal investigations, if and when any of our findings indicate criminal activity we immediately hand the information over to the respective Law Enforcement Agency or Detective associated with the case.”
