Investigators continue search of Calgary-area acreage in missing family case

AIRDRIE, Alta. – A search is expected to continue today at an acreage northeast of Calgary in connection with the disappearance of a five-year-old boy and his grandparents.

Both RCMP and Calgary police investigators combed through the acreage yesterday, on a tree-lined driveway near Airdrie, a bedroom community north of Calgary.

Acting on a tip police arrived at the property late Friday night and found a green Ford F-150 truck similar to one spotted in a video near the home of Alvin and Kathy Liknes.

A man was taken into custody and is described as a "person of interest".

Five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents disappeared from their Calgary home on Monday after the couple had been holding an estate sale.

Police confirmed Friday that there was evidence that a violent incident had occurred in the Liknes' Calgary home.

The search of the Airdrie property was likely to continue throughout the weekend, police suggested.

"Given the size of the property police will likely be there for the next 24 to 36 hours," said Calgary Police Duty Inspector Joel Matthews.

About 20 officers had been doing a grid search late Saturday afternoon and into the evening before calling it quits for the night.

Matthews cautioned that the public should not read too much into the person of interest being taken into custody.

"We're questioning the man and following the lead on the vehicle just to further the investigation," Matthews said.

"It's simply a lead we are following up. Our investigators are going to follow every lead that we believe has some weight. Due to the sensitivity of the investigation we just want to make sure we cover everything off."

Follow @BillGraveland on Twitter