Nia Eastman. Photo courtesy RCMP.
It was a tragic and heart breaking end to an Amber Alert for a little girl who had been missing since yesterday afternoon.
Around 1:45 pm today, RCMP investigators found the body of seven-year-old Nia Eastman in a home at Choiceland, which is located northeast of Prince Albert.
Early this morning, at about 5:30 am, the body of her 45-year-old father, Adam Jay Eastman was found on a rural property near Smeaton, about 20 kilometers west of where Nia was found.
RCMP say Adam Eastman died of apparent self-inflicted injuries.
A visibly shaken RCMP inspector, Jennifer Ebert, provided media with the latest information during a news conference at RCMP headquarters in Regina this afternoon.
“All of us had hoped and prayed that Nia would be located safely,” she said. “This is the goal we have every time an Amber Alert is issued, and we ask for the public’s assistance. This is a difficult day for all of us.”
Inspector Ebert says investigators are diligently working on the case to determine exactly what took place from the time Nia was picked up from school yesterday by her father, to the time her body was found this afternoon.
Ebert expressed sadness about the outcome and expressed her sympathy on behalf of the RCMP.
“The reason I am here today is not good news. I would like to begin by expressing our condolences to Nia’s family and the communities of Choiceland, Snowden, Smeaton and Nipawin.” she said.
Adam Eastman changed his Facebook cover photo yesterday to a skull and crossbones with the caption, “Leave me alone, I have had enough.”