Family wants answers from RCMP

Cousin says police didn't do enough to search for missing people later found dead

Karianne Morin remembers her cousin Alyssa Durocher as a beautiful and kind soul, who was always there for the people she loved dearly.

Morin said she started contacting RCMP to ask about their search when her 25-year-old cousin was uncharacteristically out of contact for 24 hours. At the time she was known only to be with their friend, 25-year-old Morgan Boyer.

Durocher, Boyer and another friend, Conrad Mcdonald, 31, were all reported missing and were later found dead in a submerged vehicle on Sept. 12.

Morin said she's preparing to file a public complaint to RCMP about its handling of the missing persons investigation.

“Me and my family, we looked for my cousin. They did nothing at all, absolutely nothing, and they got to control the scene, they got to do everything and they get to look like the heroes when they're not,” she said in an interview.

In an emailed statement, RCMP said the Ahtahkakakoop detachment received a report that Durocher and Boyer were missing around 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 and “immediately began” to investigate.

RCMP said their initial investigation determined they were last seen Sept. 10 around 7:25 p.m. in a black Chevrolet Equinox in Big River, and the Big River detachment took charge of the investigation.

According to RCMP, Big River officers started to conduct inquiries and patrols, and sent out BOLOS — “be on the lookout” notices — to neighbouring communities and detachments. Mcdonald was believed to be with them.

Morin said she made her report to Shellbrook RCMP that Durocher and Boyer were missing on Sept. 12 around 3 p.m. She said she knew their last location was in Leask, and her call was transferred to the Big River detachment.

Morin said police told her the friends “ditched” their $41 bill at the Big River Co-op gas bar. She believed they unintentionally forgot the bill, since this was unlike them, she said.

She told police she wanted to report Durocher and Boyer missing.

She said she didn't know Mcdonald, who was reported missing to Saskatoon police.

Morin said she later called RCMP again to ask about the search for Durocher and Boyer, wanting to know if officers were checking ditches and around bridges for them, and whether all RCMP officers knew they were missing. She said she was told that yes.

Morin said she called Durocher's sister about doing their own search, then left work in the afternoon and drove from Saskatoon to Big River with Durocher's father.

Around 5:45 p.m., Morin said she got a call from Durocher's sister, who said she'd found a vehicle in the water by the Beaver River bridge.

Morin said she went to the bridge and saw a lot of vehicles parked.

“It's clear that a vehicle went into the river. The whole barricade on Beaver River bridge was bent and there was wood debris all over and there was also parts of a vehicle.”

They alerted RCMP, who came to the scene and took control.

“It should have been the RCMP to find that scene and call us and tell us this is what happened or we found a possible scene,” she said.

RCMP said they issued a media release on Sept. 12 at 5:05 p.m. to request assistance, issued more BOLOS and conducted more patrols, and made further inquiries with Durocher and Boyer's family and friends.

RCMP said the Meadow Lake and Green Lake detachments “received a report” of a potential submerged vehicle off Highway 155 at the Beaver River bridge, more than 110 kilometres away from where Durocher and Boyer were last seen.

Victim Services were offered to loved ones at the scene and an officer spoke with family throughout the night. Police continue to liaise with family, RCMP said.