The surprise return of an abducted toddler has brought tears of joy and relief to the community of Sparwood, B.C., which has been on tenterhooks since the three-year-old was snatched from his bed almost five days ago.
Mounties received an anonymous call at 3 a.m. Sunday morning alerting them that Kienan Hebert had been placed back in his family home.
Officers arrived to find the boy sitting alone on a couch with a blanket. Early reports suggest Kienan is happy and unharmed.
Paul Hebert, the boy's father, told CTV News on Sunday that "It's like nothing ever happened," and acting Sparwood mayor Sharon Fraser called the return a miracle.
"The sun's shining so beautifully bright because this little guy's found," Fraser said. "The children are laughing and playing. What more could you ask for?"
Kienan was taken to hospital Sunday to be examined as a precaution.
Hundreds of volunteers have spent days searching for the toddler, who disappeared overnight Tuesday, but turned up no sign of him. An Amber Alert first issued in B.C. but expanded into Alberta on Saturday generated several tips about Kienan's whereabouts, but no sightings were confirmed.
RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said that in 26 years of policing, he has never seen a child abduction case unfold like this.
"We've got a child back. We've got a child returned. I've never been able to say that," Moskaluk said.
"Half of this is over now."
There was no suspect at the Hebert residence when police arrived, and the 60-plus investigators assigned to the case are now going "full bore" to find Kienan's abductor, Moskaluk said.
The Hebert family was not at home when Kienan was returned, having moved into a neighbour's house shortly his disappearance.
Asked why a suspect was able to enter the Hebert residence undetected by police, Moskaluk said Mounties are still looking at "the sequence of events."
Kienan was returned one day after authorities confirmed for the first time that he had been abducted from inside his home, and had not walked outside in his sleep. Saturday also saw the boy's father make a plea for his safety, urging the abductor to return Kienan and "walk away."
Moskaluk commended the suspect for returning the toddler in apparently good health Sunday, but added that it's now time to come forward and speak to police.
"We need to talk to you about this, and obviously the right thing was done here," he said. "All I'm asking is you call police. Reach out to us. Give us a call so we can talk to you about this. We want to help you. We want you safe and we need to help you."
The only suspect identified in the case is Randall Hopley, a 46-year-old convicted sex offender from the Sparwood area. Investigators have not yet explained why Hopley is suspected in the toddler's disappearance.
Hopley's mother, Margaret Fink, was in tears Sunday after Kienan's return, and urged her son to come see her.
"I'm very glad. I hope he comes home now. I'll be waiting for him and my husband will," Fink said. "If he can hear me… I'm very glad that the little boy [was returned], and I hope he's well."
Police confirmed early in the investigation that Hopley is not related to Kienan.
Hopley is charged with squatting for months last year in a cabin in Crowsnest Pass, filling the drawers with stolen children's clothing, chocolate bars and sex toys.
He has at least 11 assault and burglary convictions, and was also accused of attempting to abduct and molest a Sparwood boy in 2007. He was convicted of sexual assault in 1985.
He is described as a Caucasian male with brown hair, hazel eyes and a birthmark along his hairline.
Hopley is believed to be driving a brown 1987 Toyota Camry with the licence plate 098RAL. Police are telling the public not to approach Hopley's vehicle if they see it
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Hopley or his vehicle is asked to call 911 immediately.
CTV British Columbia's Rob Brown has been tweeting updates about the Hebert case. You can follow him on Twitter here.
