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Taliyah Marsman Search Update: Hunt For 5-Year-Old Who Disappeared After Her Mother’s Murder Takes ‘Ominous’ Turn After Police Arrest Suspect

By Nathan Francis
Published on: 11:37 PST, Jul 14, 2016

The search for Taliyah Marsman had a troubling update on Thursday when police arrested a man in connection with the 5-year-old who went missing after her mother was found murdered.

The disappearance of Marsman has become a story of international interest, with media outlets across North America following the case of the missing Canadian girl. Taliyah was first discovered missing after her mother, Sara Baillie, was found murdered in the basement suite where the two lived together. That prompted an Amber Alert and a potential sighting of Taliyah with a man not far from where he went missing.

Police in Canada arrested a man who they believe may have played a role in the girl’s disappearance, but the arrest has provided few clues about Marsman’s whereabouts, Huffington Post Canada reported. Police said on Thursday that the suspect is giving “zero co-operation” to investigators.

Don Coleman, an investigator working on the disappearance of Taliyah Marsman, said that the man arrested this week is believed to be the same person that witnesses saw with a girl matching Taliyah’s description on Monday. The pair were seen in an area of Calgary close to where the girl’s mother was found dead on Monday night.

The arrested man reportedly knew both Taliyah’s mother and father, and police said he has a history of violence.

The search for Taliyah Marsman has now stretched outside of Calgary to some rural outlying areas, which Coleman noted gives a more “ominous tone” to the hunt for the girl.

“Information that comes to light through several investigative strategies led us to believe that this individual was briefly in that area,” Coleman said at a police briefing. “We’ve searched other premises in the last few days. This rural area is no different.”

Investigators said that they found a stuffed animal in the rural area of focus, but have not said if it is connected to Marsman’s disappearance and said they have not yet found anything of significance.

Police have not yet named the suspect in the disappearance of Taliyah Marsman, and he has not yet been charged with a crime. Investigators said they had until Thursday night to either charge the man or release him.

In the meantime, investigators said they are seeking other potential suspects.

“We haven’t closed our minds to any other suspects. There could be more people. We don’t know at this time,” Coleman said (via the CBC).

The case has been difficult for police, Coleman added.

“It’s emotional for everybody,” he said.

“With large investigations, there’s a little bit of an emotional roller-coaster at times that investigators have to manage. I can tell you there’s a ton of people helping out with this, service-wide.”

The search has also been emotional for Taliyah’s family members, who have made public pleas for anyone with information to come forward. The girl’s father, Colin Marsman, went online to ask for help.

“With all my heart, I love her sooo much; she is my light! Please allow her to come home to her family,” he said in a statement released by a family friend.

“Those who know me best, know the person and kind of father I am, and know more than anything, I just want my baby girl back.”

Police said Colin Marsman has been fully cooperating with investigators and was not considered a suspect.

The case has also attracted help from across the community and throughout Canada, with many volunteering to search for the girl and some even tying green ribbons on trees and lampposts in honor of Taliyah.

Authorities are asking for anyone with information on the disappearance of Taliyah Marsman to contact Crime Stoppers.

[Image via Calgary Police Service]

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