Nathan O'Brien case timeline: From the family's mysterious disappearance to the triple-murder trial

For the latest developments, see:Jury selection begins for trial of man accused of killing Calgary grandparents, grandson

Calgary residents Kathy and Alvin Liknes and the couple's young grandson, Nathan O'Brien, disappeared mysteriously from a home in southwest Calgary in 2014. Here's a look at key moments in the timeline from their disappearance to the start of the triple murder trial.

Douglas Garland will face trial starting Jan. 16, 2017, on three charges of first-degree murder trial in the deaths of theLiknesesand five-year-old grandson, Nathan O'Brien. Jury selection began on Jan. 11.

They were last seen at a home in southwest Calgaryin June 2014 during anestate saleat the property. Police said there was evidencea violent crime had occurred there.

Here is a timeline of the events leading up to Garland's trial.

Watch a timeline of major events in the Nathan O'Brien Amber Alert case

8 years ago

Duration 1:15

A quick recap of major events in the case that saw a five-year-old boy and his grandparents go missing.

June 27-29: Alvin and KathyLiknes hold an estate sale at their Parkhill home in southwest Calgary onFriday, Saturday and Sunday. The couple had recently bought a house in Edmonton and planned to clear out some things before moving. The O'Brien family comes over to help out with the sale throughout the weekend.

June 29around noon: A neighbour sees Alvin Liknes at a nearby park playing with Nathan.

June 29at 10 p.m.: The estate sale is over and the O'Brien family heads home after a day of helping out. Nathan's mother, Jennifer O'Brien, leaves him with his grandparents for a sleepover.

June 30 at10 a.m.: Jennifer O'Brien returns to pick up Nathan but finds he and his grandparents are not in the house.

June 30 at5:15p.m.: Police issue an Amber Alert for Nathan.

June 30: Police announce evidence in the house has led them to believe the disappearance of Nathan and his grandparents may be suspicious.

July 1 at11 a.m.: Investigators say they have no "significant leads" about the whereabouts of the missing boy and his grandparents.

July 2 at3 p.m.: Nathan's parents, Rod and Jennifer O'Brien, speak to media. They call Nathan a superhero and ask him to stay strong as the police search continues while making a tearful plea for his return.

July 3 from10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Investigators are at the Parkhill Community Centre to speak with anyone who attended the weekend estate sale.People are being asked to bring photos of what they bought to help investigators catalogue what was purchased and what remains in the house.

July4 at11 a.m.: Calgary police ask for the public's help in identifying a truckseen in the area the night Nathan and his grandparents disappeared. They say they want to speak with the driver, who they believe might have more information about their disappearances.

July4 at2 p.m.: Calgary police say they'vefound bloodinside the Liknesresidence, although it is not known whose it is, andconfirm a violent incident took place.They say the victim(s) would have been in medical distress.

July 5 at10 a.m.: Police and a local search and rescue team begin a new ground search around the Likneses'home. This is the first time search and rescue teams have been called in on the case. Police say the search is a best practice five to seven days after a disappearance like this one.

July 5 at5:40 p.m.: RCMP tactical teams and Calgary Police Service confirm search at a property in Airdrie, Alta.,islinked to the search for Nathan and his grandparents.

July 5 at6:30 p.m.: Policesaya man from Airdrie property taken in for questioning.They have also taken a vehicle from the property that is similarin description to the one captured on CCTV images.

July 6 at 11:45 a.m.: Police announce the man taken in for questioning has been released. They said he remains a "person of interest" but police are not naming him or calling him a suspect.

July 6 atabout 4 p.m.: CBC News confirms that Douglas Garland was released from questioning specifically in regards to the Nathan O'Brien disappearance, but remained in police custody in relation to the new charge of identity theft laid against him.

July 6 atabout 6 p.m.: Investigators are still at the Airdrie property after ending a second search at another site nearby. They continued searching throughout the evening and into Monday.

July 7 at11:15 a.m.:Douglas Garland made a brief appearancein court to face a charge of identity theft.Garland appearedvia closed-circuit television.He was expressionless and leaned against a wall as the charge was discussed.

July 8 atabout 9 a.m.: Investigators return to rural areanorth ofAirdrie to resume search.

July 9 atabout noon:Douglas Garland makes his second court appearance. His bail hearing is put over to Friday

July 9 atabout 1 p.m.: Police expand search to Spyhilllandfill in northwest Calgary.

July 10 at10 a.m.: Police begin searching a second landfill in Calgary.

July 11: Douglas Garland is granted bail on the charge of identity theft, unrelated to the Nathan O'Brien case. He can't return to his parents' Airdrie property while it is under police investigation and must live in transitional housing while out on bail.

July 12: Search teams return to the Likneses' Parkhill home for another sweep of the property. Officers also return to the Spyhilllandfill in northwest Calgary and continue their search of the Garland property in Airdrie.

July 13 ataround 10:15 a.m.: Police announce their search of the Liknes home has officially ended following the previous day's final sweep of the property. It is being released back to the family, but police and RCMP are continuing to search the Airdrie acreage belonging to Douglas Garland's parents.

July 14 ataround 10: 30 a.m.:CBC News learns thatDouglas Garlandwho had been named as a "person of interest" in the disappearance offive-year-old Nathan and his grandparentsis back in police custody. At a police press conference, Calgary police say they will be laying murder charges in the case.

July 15 at around 7 a.m.:Douglas Garland is officially charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Calgary residents Kathy and Alvin Liknes, as well as second-degree murder in the death of the couple's five-year-old grandson Nathan O'Brien. The Amber Alert for Nathan O-Brien is discontinued.

July 15 at around 8 p.m.: Hundreds of Calgarians and people across Alberta released green balloons into the skies above the city Tuesday night in honour of Nathan O'Brien.

July 16: Douglas Garlandappeared in courton the murder charges he is facing.

July 18:A group of Calgary lawyers says a "perp walk" of accused murderer Douglas Garlandtrampled his presumption of innocence.

July 19:A silent auction fundraiser was held to raise money to support the family of Nathan O'Brien.

July 20: Police conclude their search of the rural property nearAirdriewhere Douglas Garland lived.A spokesperson for the Calgary Police Servicesaid police could still goback tothe acreage if required.

July 21: Aspecialized helicopter normally used in the oilfields is used in the search for the family's bodies.

July 23:A small vigil was held on the steps of the Alberta legislaturefor Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents Kathy and Alvin Liknes.

Aug. 5: Calgary police confirm they have officersin Mexico as part of their investigation into the family's disappearance.

Aug. 14: Douglas Garland makes a brief court appearance in Calgary.Crown lawyers told the judge there is still a substantial amount of evidence to be disclosed to defence counsel. The case was put over again until Sept. 17. A trust fund has also been set up for the family.

Sept. 4:Friends and family of Nathan O'Brien held a private memorial for the young Calgary boy.

Sept. 17: Douglas Garland makes another court appearance, but lawyers say it will still be months before they sort through the massive amount of disclosure in the case.

May 19, 2015: Douglas Garland's preliminary trial gets underway in Calgary. The evidence heard is under a publication ban.

May 27, 2015: A Calgary judge rulesDouglas Garland will go on trial for three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of five-year-old Nathan O'Brien and his grandparents last summer, upgradingthe charge in the young boy's death.

July 3, 2015: The application investigators submitted to a judge when applying for a search warrant is unsealed a year after the family disappeared, shedding light for the first time on what led police to believe a crime had taken place in the Liknes home.

July 31, 2015: Atrial date ofJan. 16, 2017, is set. The trial is booked for five weeks.

Jan. 11, 2017: Hundreds of potential jurors are summoned to the Calgary Courts Centre as lawyers begin the process of selecting a jury. Defence lawyers are allowed to "challenge for cause," a process that allows them to ask potentialjurors a set of questions approved by a judge. The tool is used in high-profile cases as itenables lawyers to test jurors forbias before they're accepted onto the panel.

Jan. 16, 2017: Trial is to begin for Douglas Garland. It's expected to take five weeks.

• For the latest developments, see:Jury selection begins for trial of man accused of killing Calgary grandparents, grandson