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On July 30, 2026, the search for 11-year-old Parker Wells came to a heartbreaking end when his body was discovered in a drainage pipe in northeast Calgary.
Parker, who was autistic, neurodivergent and nonverbal, disappeared from his day home on July 16, prompting one of the largest search efforts in Calgary's recent history. Hundreds of police officers, firefighters, search-and-rescue teams, trained volunteers and members of the public dedicated countless hours to finding him. In the end, new evidence led investigators back to an area near Deerfoot Trail, where Parker was found.
In this episode of Canadian Gothic, we examine the final days of the search, the discovery that brought hope to an end, what investigators have revealed about how Parker was found, and the extraordinary community response that rallied around one little boy and his family.
