On Saturday afternoon, RCMP tweeted they found the body of Chase Martens, the 2-year-old that had been missing since March 22.
RCMP said the body of the boy was found just after 1 p.m. on Saturday by a group of Winnipeg search-and-rescue volunteers.
Sgt. Bert Paquet said the area where Chase's body was found was revisited several times due to changing conditions, water levels, weather etc.
The creek is approximately half a kilometre from the boy's residence.
Sgt. Paquet said that no foul play is suspected in the boy’s death and an autopsy will take place on Sunday. There is no indication when the results will come.
"This is not the end of our investigation," said Sgt. Paquet. “This appears to be just a tragedy that all of us were hoping to avoid."
Earlier Saturday, RCMP tweeted:
The search has ended for Chase MARTENS. #rcmpmb can confirm that his body was found earlier today.
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) March 26, 2016
#rcmpmb thanks its partners and the thousands of volunteers that assisted in the search.
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) March 26, 2016
Media: Sgt. Paquet, #rcmpmb spokesperson, will be at location and provide an update at 5:30 p.m.
— RCMP Manitoba (@rcmpmb) March 26, 2016
Once news broke of the body being found, heartfelt messages and condolences were being shared.
The aunt of Cooper Nemeth, the teen found dead after going missing mid-February, tweeted:
Rest easy sweet Chase. Rest easy beautiful Delaine. I hope Cooper keeps both of you close to him in heaven ❤️
— Laresa Sayles (@laresasayles) March 27, 2016
Hundreds turned to twitter to express their sorrow for the family of the toddler.
