Search for missing Alberta couple continues

RCMP continued to call for the public's help Wednesday in tracking down a missing Alberta couple after finishing a search of an area near Edson, Alta., where the couple's burned motorhome was found.

Lyle Thomas McCann, 78, and his wife, Marie Ann, 77, left St. Albert, just outside Edmonton, on July 3.

They were headed for British Columbia in a 1999 green and white Gulf Stream Sun Voyager recreational vehicle, towing a light green Hyundai Tucson.

They were supposed to be in Abbotsford, B.C., to meet their daughter at the airport on July 10 but they never showed up.

RCMP confirmed Monday that the McCanns' motorhome was found on fire at the Minnow Lake campground near Edson on July 5. Their SUV, bearing Alberta licence plate ZPK 289, has not been found.

But the manager of the campground told CBC News both the SUV and the motorhome were in the campground earlier on the day the RV was found burned. 

No one was seen around the vehicles, and when an employee banged on the door, no one answered, he said.

RCMP spokesman Sgt. Patrick Webb confirmed this information Wednesday night.

"Exactly how this fits into the whole situation is still to be determined, but we can confirm [both vehicles] were there, actually both of them, on the morning of the fifth," Webb said.

Edson firefighters found the motorhome on fire at 7 p.m.

RCMP receive more than 80 tips

On Wednesday, RCMP released pictures of the blackened shell of the RV.

Mounties began a ground search Tuesday in the area where the burned motorhome was found, with civilian search and rescue teams from Brazeau, Parkland and Hinton.

Webb told CBC News earlier on Wednesday that they've done all they can in the area.

Webb wouldn't say if police found anything during their search.

"Right now, we've done basically all the work we can do at the scene where the motorhome was found," Webb said.

"We've had our identification section out there. We've had some civilian search and rescue doing a very minute search. We've had our helicopter out. We've had our dog teams out.

"We've done everything we can from that scene. Now, we are looking for the public's help in finding a Hyundai Tucson, which the couple had."

Since July 10, RCMP have performed an air search of 259 square kilometres, interviewed witnesses and searched the couple's cellphone records and bank accounts.

Police are also following up on more than 80 tips they have received from the public.

The McCann family has set up a Facebook group in hopes of getting information from the public. The group has more than 5,600 members.