A Watrous man has been missing for five years and the Saskatoon RCMP Historical Case Unit is asking for the public's help in their ongoing investigation.
In May of 2008, James Carlson disappeared from the Watrous area under suspicious circumstances. According to RCMP, investigators have been able to piece together a timeline for the last known actions of Carlson prior to his disappearance.
May 14, 2008, Carlson was doing some work at a Watrous area farm during the day. He had interaction with several people and had made appointments to do work at another farm the following day. Carlson returned to Watrous and went to the local video store between 7 and 8 p.m. Police say this is believed to be the last confirmed sighting of the man.
May 19, James Carlson's work truck was located abandoned in a field near Allan. The area was searched extensively but he was not located.
RCMP Forensic Identification Section examined his home the following day and police say that search revealed evidence to support the belief that Carlson had been murdered.
Over the years, an extensive investigation was conducted by the Saskatoon RCMP Major Crime Unit, and more recently the Saskatoon RCMP Historical Case Unit. In May 2010, James Carlson's white Monte Carlo was located concealed in a secluded rural property near Rosthern. Police say the interior of the vehicle was covered in automotive fluid, making it impossible for the recovery of any forensic evidence.
In the past five years, tips from the public have been received as to possible locations of Carlson's body, according to RCMP. These locations have included rural areas around Watrous, Imperial and Holdfast, such as farmland, rock piles, bush areas, bodies of water and wells. Given it is the time of year where farmers will be out on the land seeding, the RCMP Historical Case Unit will be tailoring the investigation to focus on these specific types of areas. Investigators are asking landowners to check for any sign of Carlson or any indication of anything suspicious.
The RCMP has created a short video that documents the James Carlson investigation. The video can be viewed on the RCMP Website at the following link: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/sk/news-nouvelle/video-gallery/video-pages/james-carlson-eng.htm
It is also available on the RCMP Saskatchewan YouTube channel: English -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySBc6OHjfLY; French - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZrwK8Vl7b0.
Anyone with information relating to Carlson's disappearance and suspected murder is asked to contact the Saskatoon RCMP Historical Case Unit at 306-975-5153 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
