Nathan O'Brien Amber Alert: 'Bad blood' between Douglas Garland and Alvin Liknes

Calgary police investigating the disappearance of five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents say there is "bad blood" related to money between Douglas Garland, the "person of interest" in the case, and the missing grandfather.

Police said they are not aware of any specific business deals between Garland and Alvin Liknes, but money was involved.

Nathan and grandparents Alvin and Kathy Liknes have been missing from the couple's family home for over a week.

Garland was first brought in for police questioning last Friday night. He is being held on a charge of identity theft, unrelated to the investigation. Garland made his second appearance in court on Wednesday in Calgary.

In response to Garland's lawyer's request for bail, the Crown said it will consent to release him once he can confirm where he will be living. The case is being put over until Friday.

Police and RCMP are into their fifth day of an intense search at a rural property owned by Garland's parents near Airdrie, just north of Calgary, looking for any evidence or clues.

Emergency vehicles, including an ambulance and fire trucks, were seen arriving at the property Wednesday morning. In a statement, police said the presence of paramedics was part of normal precautions on a hot summer day. The forecast high temperature for the Calgary area on Wednesday is 30 C.

The fire department was called in as a precaution due to the common presence of chemicals on farms.

On Tuesday, Calgary police spokesperson Kevin Brookwell said police seized multiple items from the Airdrie property.

"I won’t go into what those were and where they were found, but they have been seized and sent up to the crime lab," he said. 

"The search will continue until no stone has been left unturned," Brookwell said.

"We know there are certainly more questions than answers, and we wish that we had those answers for you."

Investigators are also asking owners in rural areas outside Calgary to check their properties for anything suspicious. They are also asking companies who own rural installations such as well sites to check for "anything out of the ordinary."

Garland was discovered by police on the acreage when he was detained last Friday. Police were acting on a tip from the public — about a green truck they had been seeking — which led them to the site. 

"A truck was seized from this residence on the weekend matching the description of a truck caught on CCTV in the Parkhill area," Brookwell said.

Garland spent the weekend being questioned by police about the disappearance of the three.

Officers searched through three separate fields around the Garland property and brought in a member of the canine unit to assist with police officers' shoulder-to-shoulder searches. 

"Right now, we’re looking at an area that’s several square kilometres," said Garrett Woolsey, the RCMP commander of the special tactical operations team involved in the search.

"We are currently looking for evidence in relation to a missing persons case. That’s why we’re using so many officers."

Investigators say the Amber Alert remains active.

'Person of interest' has criminal record

Garland has a criminal history, including drug trafficking and possession of stolen property and was caught making amphetamines on his parents' Airdrie acreage in 1992.

In the early 1990s, Garland was convicted of stealing the identity of Matthew Kemper Hartley — a 14-year-old Alberta boy killed in a car crash in 1980. The charge laid against him this past weekend relates to another, more recent incident in which Garland allegedly used the boy's identity again. 

Garland was released from questioning specifically in regards to the Nathan O'Brien disappearance but remained in police custody in relation to the latest charge of identity theft he now faces.

Garland has a connection to the Liknes family through his sister, who lists Nathan's parents, Rod and Jennifer, as well as Kathy Liknes as "friends" on Facebook. 

She also lists one member of the Liknes family as a niece.

Neighbours tie ribbons of hope to homes

On Monday evening, members of the Calgary church where Nathan was baptized held a special prayer service for him and his grandparents. It was attended by the family of the three.

Rev. Julian Studden said the church community is deeply affected and concerned.

"They are feeling hurt that such a tragedy can happen to a boy like Nathan, and they have a heart of compassion and they feel like it's their own little one," he said.

Studden said the community is holding nine days of special prayers. Known as the novena, the vigils began Friday.

Nathan and his grandparents were reported missing June 30,  after Nathan's mother arrived to pick up her son from a sleepover at the Liknes's home in Calgary's Parkhill. The family had been helping out with an estate sale the Likneses were holding ahead of a planned move to Edmonton.

As well as the prayer sessions, Parkhill residents are now tying green ribbons to their homes in a symbol of hope and support that the Parkhill Stanley Park Community Association says is meant to increase awareness and express hope for the safe return of Nathan and his grandparents.

Police are still looking to speak with anyone who attended the estate sale on June 27, 28 and 29.

Investigators estimate between 200 and 300 people went to the sale, but they are trying to get an idea of what was purchased and what remains in the home.

They say there was no sign of forced entry into the home, but that blood found inside confirms that a violent incident did take place.

Police could not say to whom the blood belonged, only that it signalled someone had been "in medical distress."

The forensics unit also examined "marks" along the outside of the house, but police could not confirm whether those marks are blood.

Police have a number of theories as to what took place, but aren't making those public.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.