Efforts to find Parker Wells are happening from the air as well as the ground, and with searchers on four legs as well as two. The 11-year-old Calgary boy is now eight days missing. Parker disappeared from his day home in the 0 to 100 block of Connaught Drive N.W. sometime between 11:08 and 11:41 a.m. on July 16. Police released a map on Tuesday outlining his confirmed movements as captured by CCTV. As of Thursday afternoon, that map still best represented his last known movements. “The police were over at my place and downloaded film from my security camera, and he was walking south,” said David Burbridge, who lives in the main search area. “They checked underneath my beds, closet, cubbyholes—anywhere somebody could hide.” “It’s incredibly sad, and I can’t fathom how exactly they haven’t managed to find him,” said Mark Burney, who also lives in the main search area. “There’s hundreds of people searching every nook, cranny, hillside.” On Thursday, police posted a video to social media showing their use of drones over waterways and riverbanks. Police noted the drones’ “advanced zoom and thermal imaging capabilities.” “Drones can quickly assess areas that would otherwise take significant time for people on the ground to cover,” police said. The HAWCS police helicopter has also been used to sweep for Parker. On Wednesday, police shared videos showing their use of mounted units, as well as their use of K9 units. Police said the horses offer officers “an elevated vantage point” while searching “parks, pathways and green spaces.” Police said the dogs “are helping search crews look through yards, green spaces and other areas.” “We’re doing everything we can to find Parker and bring him home,” Acting Sgt. Scott Guterson said on Wednesday. The Calgary Fire Department has been deploying specialized teams regularly. It said its aquatics rescue team has “spent many hours searching Nose Creek, nearby ponds and surrounding waterways.” It said its technical rescue team has “searched confined spaces, including storm sewer infrastructure.” And it said its local station firefighters have “supported ground searches in alleyways, parks and other natural areas.” “Our thoughts remain with Parker’s family, friends and everyone affected,” it said. How to help Calgarians are still asked to check and recheck their properties. Police have posted a video to social media showing “what we mean when we ask residents to ‘check their property.’” “What might not make sense to you could make sense to Parker,” police said. Police ask anyone in the Thorncliffe area who may have CCTV footage from Thursday to submit the footage to police through the following upload link, regardless of whether Parker is seen: https://cps.ca.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/ca26318270 Meanwhile, police said they are “actively searching throughout the city in various locations.” Police said they will “expand search locations as the investigation dictates.” He’s 4′11″ tall (150 cm) and approximately 90 pounds (41 kg) with brown hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, Parker was shirtless, wearing dark shorts and black noise-cancelling headphones. He is neurodivergent and non-verbal, and might become even more scared if confronted by strangers. If you locate Parker, you’re asked not to approach him, and to instead keep him in sight and call 911. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers. A missing person poster is available to download and print through the City of Calgary’s website.
