Is Darius Macdougall Found? 2025 Update on Missing 6-Year-Old

Six-year-old Darius Macdougall has been missing since September 21, 2025, when he vanished during a family camping trip in the backcountry south of Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Despite an intensive 11-day search that covered 22 km² of rugged terrain, no trace of the boy has been found, and the case remains open. This article draws on verified RCMP statements, major media reporting, and official missing‑persons records to separate fact from speculation and provide a clear update for readers seeking the truth about what happened to Darius.

Last checked: 2026-07-12

Missing since: September 21, 2025 · Last seen: Near family campsite, backcountry south of Crowsnest Pass, AB · Age: 6 · Family statement released: October 14, 2025 (shootinthebreeze.ca)

Was Darius Macdougall found?

As of the latest update in November 2025, Darius has not been found. The RCMP formally suspended the ground search on October 1, 2025, after 11 days of searching turned up no physical trace—no clothing, footprints, or anything else (Shootin’ the Breeze). The case remains an open missing‑person investigation.

Current search status

Since the official search ended, family members and volunteers have continued independent efforts, including searches with cadaver dogs over the Thanksgiving weekend. Those efforts also yielded no results (Shootin’ the Breeze). RCMP have stated they receive no credible information suggesting abduction (Global News).

Official RCMP updates

At a press conference on September 28, 2025, Cpl. Gina Slaney said, “With regards to the search, the survivability is less than 5%” (People). She also emphasized that there was “no indication that foul play is involved” and that all search tactics had been exhausted.

“There has not been a single trace of him anywhere.”
— Les Tallmadge, grandfather of Darius MacDougall, to Global News (source)

What happened to Darius Macdougall’s stepsister?

Public records do not detail the specific medical event that led to the death of Darius’s stepsister, identified in family accounts as Kya Warrior. The family has not released further information about her condition or the circumstances, focusing instead on the search for Darius (Global News YouTube).

Stepsister identity (Kya Warrior)

Online searches and social‑media posts reference Kya Warrior as Darius’s stepsister who was among the children playing with him the morning he disappeared. Her death shortly afterward has fuelled online speculation, but no official law‑enforcement statement connects the two events.

Her role in the disappearance narrative

The family’s public statement on October 14, 2025, makes no mention of the stepsister’s death, treating the two events as separate. Without an official investigation report, the connection remains a subject of public curiosity rather than a verified claim.

Who are Darius Macdougall’s parents?

Darius’s father (whose name has not been publicly released) was present at the campsite along with his girlfriend and the children’s grandparents. His mother has spoken to media, expressing frustration with the search response and demanding more police action (Global News).

Father and father’s girlfriend

Family accounts say the father and his girlfriend were camping with a large group that included 10 children. The RCMP have not released their names or made any statements about their conduct.

Mother’s public statements

The mother gave interviews in which she criticized the lack of an Amber Alert and the initial response. “We can’t lose hope,” she said, urging anyone with information to come forward.

“Hang tough, buddy. We’re all looking for you. We’re searching for you. Stay strong.”
— Family member addressing Darius (paraphrased from video, Global News)

How did Darius go missing?

According to the family’s detailed account, the camping group arrived on September 19, 2025, at the Livingstone Crown Land / Public Land Use Zone near Tent Mountain Road. On the morning of September 21, the day they planned to leave, children were playing on a small island across a creek from the adult‑supervised campsite (Shootin’ the Breeze).

Camping trip context

The group included 10 children, Darius’s father, his father’s girlfriend, and grandparents. The area is a popular but remote backcountry site known for its steep terrain and proximity to the B.C. border.

Last known actions

Three children (including Darius) were playing on the island. The other two children briefly looked away, and when they looked back, Darius was gone. Adults searched the immediate area but found no sign of him. An emergency call was placed at about 11:33 a.m. (People).

Location and search area

The search area centers on the backcountry south of Crowsnest Pass, near Island Lake Campground (also referred to as Long Island Lake or Livingstone Public Land Use Zone). The terrain is steep, forested alpine, with creeks and rocky slopes. The closest highway is Highway 3, and the U.S. border lies about 30 km to the south (Global News).

RCMP and SAR reported covering approximately 22 km² and traveling over 5,300 km during ground and air searches. The remoteness and dense vegetation made containment difficult.