Police release new photos of father of slain Merritt children

Merritt RCMP have released new photographs of Allan Dwayne Schoenborn, the father of three children who were found dead in a Merritt, B.C., trailer home on Sunday afternoon.

RCMP Const. Annie Linteau told CBC News in an interview Friday she hopes the new pictureshelp find the 40-year-old.

"This may help us screen some of the tips," said Linteau.

The RCMP have received about 190 tips so far, but some of them may not be accurate because people are unclear on exactly what Schoenborn looks like, she said.

In the photographs, Schoenborn's distinct bald spot and small stature are clearly visible. Schoenborn isdescribed asfive-feet-four, 130 pounds.

Police have asked local ranchers to search the mountains and rangeland for Schoenborn.

Timeline still uncertain

It's still not clear how long the children were dead before their mother called police.

Linteau said the "time and cause of death" is not something police are willing to release at this time.

"We've never actually released that information. The only thing we have been saying is that contrary to some media reports that shewas only gone a few minutes or 10 minutes, we can confirm that information is false," said Linteau.

Linteau did confirm the children's mother,Darcie Clarke, left the home, and Allan Schoenborn was in the trailer alone with his children for a period of time before police were called on Sunday.

Linteau would not reveal how long the children had been dead before their bodies were found, but at a news conference Thursday, RCMP Asst. Commissioner Al Macintyre said it was "considerably earlier" than was reported by Clarke just after 2 p.m. Sunday when Merritt RCMP were called to the mobile home.

At the same news conference, Macintyre would not comment on whether Clarke hasbeen ruled out as a suspect, but later said, "Personally in my heart, I don't see the mother as a suspect. I could be proven wrong afterwards because something else will have been learned or determined."

Police said Clarke is in a safe location"undergoing care," but they will not reveal if she is still at the local hospital or somewhere else, or if she is under police guard.

Neighbours asking questions

Neighbours living near the mobile home where the killings took place are asking themselves how someone could kill three children in the middle of day without anyone hearing a thing, and then leave without anyone seeing.

Janet Heigh can see directly into Darcie Clarkes backyard from her back deck and said she saw the childrens father, Allan Schoenborn, at the home on Saturday, but saw nothing on Sunday.

"My husband and I were working in the yard here from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, and did not hear or see anything whatsoever," Heigh told CBC News.

Another neighbour, Wendy Carsons, was thatching her front lawn Sunday. She said sheheard the family dog barking, and would have seen anyone enter or leave. She said she saw nothing until the children's mother arrived at around 2:15 p.m.

Sandra Nelson told CBC News that she believes Schoenborn visited her downtown sports store on Sunday.

"He came in the store, it was just around noon," said Nelson, adding she's certain it was Schoenborn.

"There is no doubt in my mind as to who it is because the guys features are very distinctive, you know, he doesnt look like everybody else on the street. His features are different."