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Abducted Alberta girls spotted in Golden, B.C., RCMP say

Trina Meisel, wanted for abducting daughters Taya and Talisha, faces 25 other charges

CBC News Posted: May 14, 2014 11:41 AM MT Last Updated: May 14, 2014 5:24 PM MT, Source

RCMP are looking for Taya Meisel, 6, and her sister Talisha, 12, believed to have been abducted by their biological mother.

RCMP are looking for Taya Meisel, 6, and her sister Talisha, 12, believed to have been abducted by their biological mother. (Vulcan RCMP)

Two southern Alberta girls, who are the subjects of an Amber Alert, have been spotted in Golden, B.C., according to the RCMP.

Officials say Taya Meisel, 6, and her sister Talisha, 12, were picked up by their biological mother at their school in the hamlet of Brant near Vulcan, Alta., Monday morning.

RCMP say they were spotted Monday at 1 p.m. MT and are believed to be heading toward the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island.

"We are very concerned about the well-being of Talisha and Taya, and their mother, Trina," said RCMP Insp. Tony Hamori. "All anyone wants is to locate the girls and their mom — and to know that they are safe."

Trina Marie Meisel is not the legal guardian of the girls. A warrant has since been issued for her arrest on two counts of abduction.

Meisel, 48, is believed to be driving a 2007 black Honda CRV with Alberta licence plate ORNRSE.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact 911 or the Vulcan RCMP at 403-485-2267," RCMP said in a release.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 48-year-old Trina Marie Meisel on two counts of abduction. (Vulcan RCMP)

Alberta RCMP said the reason an Amber Alert was not issued earlier this week was because the girls were not in any immediate danger.

CBC News has learned that Meisel faces 24 charges of theft and a charge of setting a trap to cause bodily harm.

Those charges are unrelated to the alleged abductions.

Vulcan RCMP Const. Greg Hendry said there is no proof that the girls are in danger.

"All of those factors were evaluated and the decision was made that we felt the children were not in imminent danger and that's why an Amber Alert was not issued [earlier]."

RCMP said the girls are at an increased risk the longer they are away from their legal guardian.

The major crimes unit from Calgary is leading the missing persons investigation, and has also taken over the files on the other charges that Meisel is facing.

It is believed Trina Meisel and her daughters could be travelling in a 2007 black Honda CRV, like the one pictured above, with Alberta licence plate ORNRSE. (Vulcan RCMP

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Former Member

Abducted Alberta girls spotted in Golden, B.C., RCMP say

Amber Alert

Missing girls, Alberta sisters

Two young southern Alberta girls, who are the subjects of an Amber Alert, have been spotted in Golden, B.C., according to the RCMP. May 14, 7:24 PM ET

What is an Amber alert?

Amber alert is an alert system established in the United States – and since adopted in Canada – to publicize child abductions. It uses electronic highway signs and designated local broadcasters to announce the missing child's name and description, and the description of any vehicle or person who is suspected to be involved in the abduction. It's named after a Texas girl, Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and murdered near Dallas. The umbrella agency that oversees Amber alert has created the acronym for "America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response."

How does Amber alert work?

Local police prepare an alert containing information such as the child's and/or abductor's description and other relevant information. A special press release is sent to television and radio stations designated as "Amber Alert Broadcasters.” Getting the alert on the air immediately is a priority, as time is a factor in safe child rescues. Radio stations interrupt programming; TV stations may show a text "crawl" along the bottom of the screen. Roadside traffic pixel signs may show text or photos, depending on the technology available in the region.

Is Amber alert a national program?

Every province has jurisdictions that have signed on to the Amber programme. However, an Amber alert issued in one region does not necessarily become a national Missing Persons bulletin. If there is reason to suspect the child is in danger and maybe travelling across the country, RCMP may issue a national warrant. Usually, however, an Amber alert is restricted to a local area.

What is CBC's involvement in Amber alerts?

The CBC participates fully in notifying the public of an Amber alert. Each CBC location works actively with their local police force to ensure the timely delivery and accuracy of each alert. The CBC has also established a national protocol to ensure that Amber alert information can be received and delivered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

5/14/147:43 PM

Former Member

Two girls safe, mother arrested in B.C. after Amber Alert brings in tips

By The Canadian Press, May 14, 2014 8:50 PM, Source

Two Alberta girls are safe and their mother has been arrested after an Amber Alert issued Wednesday morning garnered public tips that helped police locate the trio in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon

VANCOUVER - Two Alberta girls are safe and their mother has been arrested after an Amber Alert issued Wednesday morning garnered public tips that helped police locate the trio in British Columbia's Fraser Canyon.

By evening, RCMP said six-year-old Taya Meisel and her 12-year-old sister, Talisha, were located in Boston Bar, B.C., about 215 northeast of Vancouver.

Their mother, 48-year-old Trina Meisel, who does not have legal guardianship, faces two counts of abduction.

Acting on information from the public, police said they located the three and took them into custody without trouble.

"The two girls are OK and investigators are working with the Ministry of Children and Family Development with respect to their care," B.C. RCMP Sgt. Rob Vermeulen said in a news release.

Alberta RCMP said relatives of the girls were en route to British Columbia to pick them up.

Insp. Tony Hamori said Trina Meisel had been taken to Hope, B.C., for processing before being returned to Alberta to be formally charged.

He also said the girls were taken to a hospital as a precaution but appeared to be in good health.

The alert was cancelled just hours after police in Alberta warned that their investigation led them to believe the situation had "become desperate" and the girls could be in grave danger.

Mounties first issued a warning Monday after the girls were discovered missing just before 11 a.m. MST. An arrest warrant was then issued on Tuesday in connection with what was believed to be a parental abduction.

On Wednesday morning, police heightened the search to an Amber Alert after a "confirmed sighting" they said occurred Monday afternoon in Golden, B.C.

RCMP Insp. Gibson Glavin, a senior officer in southern Alberta, said later in the day that the scenario hadn't met all criteria required to activate the Amber Alert for two days.

"We did not have one of the four criteria, which was belief that the children were at risk of serious bodily harm or death," he said at a news conference not long before the group was located.

"What changed was (Wednesday) morning, information came to the investigator's attention that caused him to believe the children could be at risk of serious bodily harm or death."

Hamori later explained that information stemmed from comments Trina Meisel allegedly had made to people she knew.

Police began investigating after the girls disappeared from their elementary school in Brandt, near Vulcan, south of Calgary.

It's alleged they sneaked out of school to join their mother, who is the non-custodial parent.

Police issued a plea for Meisel to come forward, when she was believed to be travelling across B.C., possibly towards the Lower Mainland or Vancouver Island.

Hamori said police in Alberta had been communicating extensively with all police forces in western Canada since the investigation began.

The RCMP detachment in Ladysmith, on the southeast coast of Vancouver Island, was first advised the family could be headed west on Tuesday based on information posted on Facebook.

5/15/141:23 AM

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Topics

Abducted Alberta girls spotted in Golden, B.C., RCMP say

Trina Meisel, wanted for abducting daughters Taya and Talisha, faces 25 other charges

Abducted Alberta girls spotted in Golden, B.C., RCMP say

What is an Amber alert?

How does Amber alert work?

Is Amber alert a national program?

What is CBC's involvement in Amber alerts?

Two girls safe, mother arrested in B.C. after Amber Alert brings in tips

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