Could a business dispute with former drug trafficker be behind disappearance of five-year-old boy and his grandparents?
- Douglas Garland had a falling out with missing man Alvin Liknes
- Police continue to search properties near Garland's home
- Garland was arrested for possessing a dead teenager's identification
A soured business deal between a suspect in the case of a missing Calgary boy and his grandparents, is now at the centre of a hunt for the trio.
Nathan O’Brien, five, and his grandparents Alvin and Kathryn Liknes were reported missing last Monday and were last seen at the Liknes Arkhill home on June 29.
On Saturday police took Douglas Garland in for questioning. It was believed the 54-year-old, from Airdire, Alberta, was driving a green Ford F-150 pickup seen near the Liknes family home on the night they disappeared.
Nathan O'Brien, five, and his grandmother, Kathy Liknes, who are missing along with her husband Alvin Liknes, seen here in a picture released by Calgary police
Police are said to be looking into a dispute over a business deal several years ago between Garland - who is related to the missing trio through a sister's comnon-law marriage - and Mr Alvin, according to the National Post.
Officers focused their hunt for the missing family members at three Airdrie locations on Monday.
One centred around a slough and a field near the home of Mr Garland's parents, Archie and Doreen Garland.
Garland once operated a drugs lab at the property which police searched over the weekend.
A 'person of interest': Douglas Garland (left) has been questioned over the disappearance of Nathan O'Brien (right) and his grandparents (below) while officers searched his family farm for clues
Not suspects: Alvin and Kathryn Liknes are not considered suspects in the case, since investigators found signs of a struggle in the their Arkhill home
After being questioned by police Garland was released the following day.
He
was then remanded in custody for two days for possessing the
identification of Matthew Hartley, a teenager who had died in a car
crash in 1980. He had previously assumed the identity to avoid authorities and gain employment.
Garland made a brief appearance in court on Monday, via closed circuit television, and was remanded in custody for an additional 48 hours, in which time police could continue to interview him.
'You're our superhero': During a press conference, Nathan's mother Jennifer O'Brien told her son to stay strong
Garland's criminal history dates back to 1992 when police raided his parent's farm on suspicion he was producing drugs. They found ingredients to make crystal meth, but no final product.
Drug charges were filed but Garland skipped town and lived on the run for seven years.
He was discovered in 1999 living in British Columbia under the name of the dead teenager, and later served 39 months jail after being convicted of drugs charges.
The truck in question: Canadian authorities said this green late 1980s - early 1990s Ford F-150 pickup was circling the house where the missing trio was before they went missing
Garland
had used the fake identity to gain employment as a chemical mixer, but
that ended in 1997 after a promotion led to him suffering a nervous
breakdown.
He then filed for unemployment benefits under the assumed name, but that was denied after his true identity was revealed.
Garland, who also dropped out of medical following a nervous breakdown, then sued in the federal tax court and won.
His last encounter with the law was a traffic offence in 2009.
Mrs O'Brien described her son as a chatterbox who loved superheros. Pictured above, Rod O'Brien (left), Jennifer O'Brien (second left), Maximus O'Brien (center), Nathan O'Brien (second right), Luke O'Brien
Monday's search involved forensics investigators and fire personnel who scoured a waterway in a rapid deployment craft.
Green
ribbons have now appeared around the close-knit Airdire community, a
symbol of hope that the trio will return home safe and sound.
On Friday Calgary police Staff Sgt. Doug Andrus spoke about the significance of locating the truck seen near Liknes family home on the night they disappeared.
Police swarmed on the Garland family farm after neighbours reported seeing the Ford F-150 there
He
said: 'We just believe given the area the vehicle was in, and the fact
that it was the night of the incident and that it drove in the area
several times, that there's a good possibility that the individual, or individuals, may have information.'
At
the press conference police confirmed a 'violent crime happened in that
residence', but said they remained hopeful 'we will find them alive'.
The missing boy's grandparents are not considered suspects as investigators found evidence that all three left the home against their will.
Rod O'Brien, seen here with his wife Jennifer, broke down in tears when he spoke about his missing son
Nathan's father Rod O'Brien cried as he spoke of his beloved son last week.
He
said: 'To whoever has Nathan, please find it in your heart to drop off
our little angel Nathan, so he can be rescued and reunited with his
brothers and his family.'
Jennifer O'Brien told her son to have courage.
She said: 'Stay strong, Nathan. We know you are our superhero and I just need you to stay strong and we are going to see you.
No stone unturned: Officers are walking every inch of every field on the farm after tips led them to the property
'We can't be with you right now, but the best people who can be with you other than us are your grandparents.
'I know Grandma is holding you so tight right now, and they are doing everything in their power to keep you safe.'
Mrs O'Brien last saw her son Sunday night, after helping her parents all day with a garage sale.
Mrs O'Brien and her son spent the day prior helping her parents with a garage sale at their home
She left her parents home around 10pm and Nathan stayed behind to have a sleepover. When she returned 12 hours later in the morning, all three were gone.
An Amber Alert was issued for Nathan later that evening.
Investigators
have not said much about what they found in the home, but there is a
visible 8-meter-long drag mark of what looks to be recently cleaned up dark liquid that runs from the home's side door to the driveway.
Inspector Keith Cain said: 'We have a big mystery on our hands right now, we don’t know where these people are.'
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