Search for missing Calgary boy and grandparents becomes homicide investigation

CALGARY – Murder charges have been laid in the disappearance of five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Kathryn Liknes and Alvin Liknes.

Evidence was collected leading to the arrest but no bodies have been found. At this time, the identity of the person charged is not being revealed by police.

Calgary police held a press conference revealing the arrest and charge at 1 p.m. July 14, 2014.

POLICE SAY THEY HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN THE CASE OF MISSING BOY, GRANDPARENTS

CALGARY – Calgary police say they have made an arrest in the disappearance of a five-year-old boy and his grandparents.

In a news release, police say they cannot identify the person arrested because charges have not been laid. The police chief has a news conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Kathryn and Alvin Liknes, haven't been seen since June 29 after what police say was a violent incident in the Liknes house.

The couple held an estate sale in their home prior to their disappearance and Nathan was there on a sleepover.

An Amber Alert issued shortly after they were reported missing has now been cancelled.

Police have only publicly identified one man as a person of interest in the case.

Douglas Garland was first questioned more than a week ago and was released from custody last Friday on unrelated identity theft charges.

Media reports citing police sources say it's Garland who has been re-arrested.

Garland, who is 54, has ties to the Liknes family.

Police have said his sister is in a relationship with a family member and there have been reports he had business dealings with Alvin Liknes as well.

Investigators have been searching the tree-lined acreage northeast of Airdrie where Garland lives with his parents since he was initially questioned.

Over the past two weeks RCMP and Calgary police have searched several fields, sloughs and stands of trees on the acreage and in an area nearby.

%%Image2%%

%%Image3%%