Mother, daughter missing: Calgary police say suspect may have burned evidence

CALGARY – Police say a suspect in the disappearance of a missing Calgary woman and her toddler daughter may have tried to get rid of evidence.

Homicide investigators say a suspect may have attempted to destroy evidence “by means of burning” in the Rocky Mountain foothills south and west of Calgary between April 16 and April 20.

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Aliyah Sanderson, 22 months old, and her mother, Jasmine Lovett, have not been seen since April 16 and were reported missing a week later after they failed to show up for a family dinner.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen signs of a suspicious fire in an unusual area and not in a designated fire pit to contact them.

Investigators believe this fire would be between April 16th and the 20th, in Kananaskis, Bragg Creek, Priddis or Elbow Falls.

Staff Sergeant Martin Schiavetta thanks to public for all their tips. Urges anyone else with knowledge to come forward pic.twitter.com/N735gPV4Sl

— Tom Ross (@Tommy_Slick) April 29, 2019

They say a search in the Bragg Creek and Kananaskis areas west of Calgary remains on hold because of heavy snowfall on the weekend.

Members of the public are being warned not to search on their own because it could result in accidental destruction of evidence under the snow.

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Police plan to resume their search once the snow has melted.

They also say a forensic search of the home where Lovett and her daughter lived has been completed.

A man who was taken into custody was released Friday without charges, but police said at the time that he remains a primary suspect. His name has not been released.

The Lovett family released a statement on Monday, saying:

“Thank you to everyone who is helping in the search for Jasmine and Aliyah. Our hearts are shattered and we continue to seek answers to the questions many of you are asking.

If anyone has any information about this case, we beg of you to please contact police.

We are not yet ready to speak publicly and request our privacy during this extremely difficult time.”

WATCH: Family of Jasmine Lovett and Aliyah Sanderson release statement