Remains found, 2 youths arrested in case of missing P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
RCMP searchers have found human remains in eastern P.E.I. that police believe are connected to the disappearance of Tyson MacDonald, and two young people have been arrested in the case.
MacDonald, 17, was last seen Dec. 14 in the Caledonia area of Kings County. His disappearance was at first considered a missing persons case.
Police conducted extensive air and ground searches earlier this week after the RCMP said the investigation had changed to a criminal one, though at that point they did not say why.
On Wednesday morning, the RCMP said human remains had been found early the same day in the Milltown Cross area, about 11 kilometres south of Montague.
“The remains are believed to be those of Tyson MacDonald, although we are awaiting positive identification by the coroner’s office,” said RCMP Supt. Kevin Lewis, acting commanding officer for P.E.I.
“Several charges are expected to be laid later, including homicide.”
In Canada, homicide charges range from manslaughter to first-degree murder, depending on the amount of intent and pre-planning justice officials believe was involved.
CBC News initially decided not to name MacDonald because of the pending charges. The Youth Criminal Justice Act prohibits anyone from publishing the identity of accused people under 18, as well as any victims and witnesses under 18 when a youth is charged with a crime.
However, RCMP later confirmed that MacDonald’s parents had consented to his name being shared in this case.
Police said the two youths were arrested Tuesday evening and remain in custody.
Dozens of resources were deployed in the search for MacDonald, including an RCMP helicopter, Digital Forensic Services, the Forensic Identification Section, the Police Dog Service and drone operators, as well as several officers from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Lewis said RCMP officers are working closely with the MacDonald family, the provincial Victim Services team, and Montague Regional High School.
“I’d like to thank the public that assisted with this investigation over the past week. My condolences go out to the MacDonald family — this is not the outcome we had hoped for,” he said.
Times like this make you realize that we need to hold our loved ones tight.— RCMP Supt. Kevin Lewis
In light of this case and another recent tragedy in eastern P.E.I., Lewis urged anyone struggling with grief to contact 988 or the Mobile Mental Health Response Service.
“The past few weeks have obviously been very difficult, as we recently had the fatal … accident in Marshfield that claimed four lives, and now this tragedy,” said Lewis.
“These types of incidents have a deep and difficult impact on the individuals, communities and the families. Times like this make you realize that we need to hold our loved ones tight.”
