English
One year after six-year-old Darius MacDougall vanished from a campsite near the Alberta-British Columbia border, his family has returned to the spot where he was last seen. They continue to hold out hope that Darius is still alive. His disappearance on September 21, 2025, in the Crowsnest Pass region triggered one of the largest search efforts in recent Alberta history — yet the boy has never been found.
A Family Refuses to Give Up
On the one-year anniversary of Darius going missing, his grandfather Leslie Tallmadge spoke with raw emotion. “Darius, we still love you, miss you. We’re never going to stop searching for you, buddy,” he said. “I come here and I walk and I look — I’d look anywhere for you.”
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Darius would now be seven years old. His family continues to urge the public to come forward with any information. “If you see something or you know something, call the police,” Tallmadge said. “He’s out there somewhere. If you see him, call the police.”
His grandmother, Tina Herron, believes Darius did not simply wander off into the mountains. Instead, she suspects someone took him. “Somebody had to have taken him,” she said. “There’s just been too many people out here, too many searches not to find anything. To me, somebody has come and taken him.”
Massive Search Effort Yielded No Results
After Darius disappeared, authorities launched an extensive search operation. Drones, dogs, helicopters and more than 200 crew members took part each day. Specialized teams, including underwater divers, also joined the effort.
However, after more than a week of searching, RCMP called off the operation. Tallmadge finds it difficult to accept that nothing turned up. “11 days straight with 200 plus searchers every day — there’s no way we missed anything,” he said.
At the time, RCMP stated they found no evidence of a kidnapping. As a result, authorities never issued an Amber Alert. That decision still troubles Herron deeply. “No matter who it is, it’s a child,” she said. “They should have an Amber Alert, whether it meets the criteria or not — he should have it.”
A few days after Darius went missing, a Change.org petition called for changes to how Amber Alerts are issued. As of Monday, that petition has gathered more than 20,000 signatures.
RCMP Continues the Investigation
On Monday, Alberta RCMP released a statement confirming the investigation remains active. “The Alberta RCMP recognizes that Darius’ disappearance continues to weigh heavily on his family and those who know and love him,” the statement read. “The passage of time does not lessen the importance of finding answers, and investigators remain committed to pursuing information that may help bring clarity to what happened to Darius.”
So far, RCMP has received just over 70 tips from the public. Officers say every tip was fully investigated. Unfortunately, none have led to finding Darius. Despite that, investigators say they continue to review information and pursue any viable leads.
RCMP is urging anyone with information to contact the Crowsnest Pass detachment at 403-562-2866. Officers noted that details which may seem minor could still prove important to the investigation.
Community Gathers to Keep Darius in the Public Eye
On Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil took place at Lethbridge City Hall. Organizers held the event to raise awareness of the ongoing search for Darius MacDougall and to show support for his family.
Meanwhile, his family remains at the campsite where he was last seen, still searching, still hoping. For them, the passage of one year has not brought closure — only a deeper determination to find answers.
