Skip to main content

Lyle and Marie Ann McCann of St. Albert, Alta., were reported missing on July 10.

Family and friends of a missing Alberta couple have decided to call off their personal ground search for the two seniors who vanished almost five months ago.

Lyle and Marie McCann, both in their 70s, were last seen July 3 gassing up their motorhome in their hometown of St. Albert before a trip to British Columbia.

The couple's son, Bret McCann, said Friday the arrival of winter weather this week has made it too difficult to continue looking for his parents in the bush west of Edmonton where their motorhome and SUV were found.

"The whole notion of a search in this weather is just not feasible, especially with that snow," he said. "It's cold, so we've decided to not search. The last two months we've had family and friends out there on quads every weekend, but we've decided to stop that now."

Mr. McCann said he feels somewhat defeated, but the difficult decision to give up the search was really the only option.

"It's just the enormity of the task and not knowing where to look were becoming pretty overwhelming, and now with this weather, it's kind of the last straw."

But he remains hopeful that someone will come forward with information or that police will crack the case. The family last month put up billboards and hoped to glean tips from hunters who might stumble upon something.

About 20 RCMP officers are still investigating the disappearance and have followed up on hundreds of tips, said police spokeswoman Doris Stapleton.

"We'd like to assure the family and friends of the McCanns that the RCMP continue to investigate this file," she said. "We have not closed this file and this file will not close until we've exhausted every avenue."

A $60,000 reward for information leading to the McCanns is still available. Ms. Stapleton urged anyone who may know something to step forward.

Suspect Travis Vader, who was arrested in August, remains in custody on unrelated charges.

The couple's burning motorhome was found on July 5 about 200 kilometres west of Edmonton. Two weeks later, the SUV the McCanns had been hauling on their vacation trip was found abandoned in thick bush in the area.

Interact with The Globe