Edmonton man accused of abducting his 2 kids wanted on Canada-wide warrant
The search for an Edmonton father and his two young children has taken a distressing turn, with local authorities officially escalating the case to a criminal investigation. After more than a month of uncertainty, the Edmonton Police Service has confirmed they are now treating the disappearance as an intentional abduction. The gravity of this development was marked by the issuance of a Canada-wide warrant on September 23 for 42-year-old Scot MacDermid, who is now sought by law enforcement across the country.
Understanding the Canada-wide Warrant
Legal experts and police spokespeople explain that the decision to issue a Canada-wide warrant is never made lightly. In this instance, the charges relate specifically to two counts of abduction in contravention of a custody order. This specific legal designation applies when a parent or guardian removes a child under the age of 14, deliberately violating a court-mandated custody arrangement to keep the children away from their legal guardians.
For the family and community, the past few weeks have been marked by growing anxiety. The trio was last seen in their hometown of Edmonton on Friday, August 28. Their last confirmed location was the Manning Town Centre, a busy shopping hub in the city’s northeast. From that point, the trail went cold before investigators uncovered a lead suggesting the father and his children, nine-year-old Lesley and six-year-old George, were spotted in Lloydminster later that same evening.
The Scope of the Investigation
Authorities have interviewed a person of interest who was seen in the company of the father and children in Lloydminster, yet the investigation remains wide open. While initial reports from September 17 suggested a potential trajectory toward Saskatchewan or Manitoba, the trail has since faded. The lack of concrete sightings has left investigators relying on public assistance to help locate the missing individuals.
The police response to this crisis has been methodical. Although the public often associates high-profile missing child cases with an Amber Alert, officials have clarified that this specific case does not meet the established legal criteria for such a system. According to Staff Sgt. Robert Davis of the EPS child protection section, the decision to withhold an alert is not a sign of inactivity. Rather, he emphasized that the organization is utilizing every available investigative tool to ensure the safety of the children. As police investigate these sensitive and complex matters, they continue to monitor for any credible tips.
The physical descriptions provided by investigators are critical for members of the public who might have crossed paths with the group. Scot MacDermid is described as five-feet, five-inches tall and approximately 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. His daughter, Lesley, is four-feet, four-inches tall with medium-length curly brown hair. Her brother, George, stands four-feet, two-inches tall and also has short, curly brown hair. Both children weigh approximately 45 pounds.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities involved in custody-related disappearances. While local agencies continue their work, the expansion of the search across provincial borders highlights the urgency felt by the Edmonton Police Service. Every day that passes without a recovery is a day of immense strain on the family and the investigators tasked with bringing these children home safely.
Members of the community who have any information regarding the current whereabouts of Scot, George, or Lesley are encouraged to contact the Edmonton Police Service immediately. Reports can be made by calling 780-423-4567 or by dialing #377 from a mobile device. While the legal proceedings move forward, the primary focus remains the physical safety of the two children caught in the middle of this harrowing situation.