Nathan O'Brien disappearance could be connected to patent dispute
Calgary police are looking into a patent dispute as part of their probe into the disappearance of a five-year-old and his grandparents, a source close to the investigation told CBC News.
Sources say a business deal went sour, leading to "bad blood."
Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents, Alvin and Kathy Liknes, were last seen at their home June 29 after hosting an estate sale.
Winter Petroleum, a junior gas company that was owned by Liknes, went bankrupt near the end of June — just days before the family went missing. Liknes had registered a patent for an apparatus that separates gas from water.
Several investigators are looking into the business relationship between Douglas Garland, a man the police have called the only "person of interest" in the case, and Alvin Liknes, Calgary Police Service spokesperson Kevin Brookwell said Thursday afternoon.
"There are some business issues that we are looking into. I can't get into specifics about what these are and who was involved, what they look like or how many people were involved. But yes, we have got a number of people who are looking into that," Brookwell said.
Court records also show that both Alvin and Kathy Liknes have declared bankruptcy in the past – Alvin in 1994 and Kathy just two years ago.
According to records, Liknes was involved in several civil lawsuits in the 1980s and early 90s. He was the defendant in two cases four years ago.
Alvin Liknes's son is in a common-law relationship with Garland’s sister.
Search expands
The search for the clues to the disappearance of the Calgary family has expanded from a rural acreage in the region to city landfill sites, police say.
Police say that evidence in the Liknes home suggests a violent altercation occurred there and that at least one person may have left in medical distress.
An Amber Alert, used to publicize child abductions, remains in effect, Brookwell said.
"It is a significant investigative strategy as part of this file," Brookwell said.
"We are hopeful that we will find them alive, and there is nothing to indicate otherwise."
In what police say is a routine procedure, they asked all three Calgary area landfills to segregate any waste that has come in since the disappearance, Brookwell said.
Search teams moved to the East Calgary Landfill in the city's southeast Thursday morning. On Wednesday, police began searching the Spyhill Landfill in northwest Calgary. Until then, the search had been confined to the rural acreage in Airdrie, north of Calgary.
Acreage was site of 1990s drug lab
At the acreage, which belongs to the parents of Garland, flammable and dangerous chemicals have been found, police said.
"We don’t know if it’s chemicals that are part of a typical farm operation or chemicals that could be used for something else," Brookwell said.
"So, until we know what those chemicals are, we can’t say and it’s too early to speculate what those may be or what they be used for."
In 1992, Garland was caught making amphetamines at the acreage. He was charged with drug trafficking, possession of stolen property and identity theft, among other things.
Garland, 54, has been in custody since last Friday on a charge of identity theft unrelated to the missing family investigation. He faces charges of identity theft and unlawfully possessing a bank card.
He is expected back in court Friday when he could be released on bail.
Community holds vigil for family
A vigil was held Thursday night at the Parkhill Community hall which is just 100 metres from the family's home.
Police are still asking anyone who was at the estate sale the Likneses held on June 27, 28 and 29 to come forward.
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.
