By Tyler Marr

Group assembles to search for missing P.A. woman

Apr 29, 2017 | 4:00 PM

Friends, family and concerned citizens will be sweeping Prince Albert this weekend in an effort to locate Happy Mary Charles.

Charles was reported missing at the beginning of April and her family has been working tirelessly to locate the 42-year-old female.

David Crane was called in to help organize the hunt. He assists in not only providing guidance, gathering resources and assigning search groups but also works to find elders and support systems for the family to deliver comfort and reinforce the fact there is help in the community and no need to navigate the struggle alone.

“The family likes when there are people to support them,” he said.

This message was echoed by 21-year-old Aleisha, one of Charles’s daughters, who said the additional support and willingness of those to lend a hand brought her comfort during this devastating time.

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“It is good that she knew a lot of people and it means that hopefully, we can find her faster,” Aleisha said. “I have been scared of where she might be and if she is alive.”

Even after police pass through an area, Crane said it is good to double-back later with another group to ensure any suspected sites are examined with a fine-toothed comb.

“Once [the police] are confident they won’t find anybody in that area, they pull everybody out and the family and community are on their own to keep the search going,” Crane said, who is commonly called upon and well versed to facilitate and conduct investigations of this matter.

“Sometimes, depending on a search, it is good to start all over again and have another fresh set of eyes on the same area. There are times we can search for a whole year and find the [missing person] the following year, despite ongoing searches,” he said.

Crane welcomed anyone who wished to assist in the investigation to join them starting around 8 a.m. Sunday at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre.

The searches are in-and-out routines, lending the opportunity for people to continuously assist throughout the day. 

Charles is described as 5’3″ tall, roughly 112 lbs with brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts of is asked to contact Prince Albert Police Service or Crime Stoppers.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr