Missing Shamattawa boy, 6, found dead: Manitoba RCMP

A six-year-old boy who had been missing in a northeastern Manitoba First Nation since Wednesday has been found dead, RCMP say.

Searchers in ShamattawaFirst Nation found Johnson Redhead dead around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday night, Manitoba RCMP said in a news release. His body was found in a marshy area, about three-and-a-half kilometres from the school where he was last seen, according to the release.

The boy attended a breakfast program at theschool in the northeastern Manitoba First Nation on Wednesday morningbut didn't show up in class after that, RCMPpreviously said.

His disappearance sparked a large-scale search of the area by community members, volunteers and police.

"We extend our deepest condolences to his family, the community of Shamattawa First Nationand to everyone grieving his loss," RCMP said in their release.

Earlier in the day,RCMPsaid in a social media post that thesearch party includedmembers fromRCMPSearch and Rescue, the Office of the Fire Commissioner,MantoSipiCree Nation,PimicikamakCree Nation andTataskweyakCree Nation.

Handfuls of members fromShamattawaFirst Nationhad also been helping with the search,RCMPpreviously toldCBCNews. The boy's family was also involved in the search.

Multiple teams were doing grid searches,RCMPsaid in the post.

On Saturday,RCMPSgt. PaulManaigresaid the search had been largely focused on bushes in the west of the community, near its nursing station, after tracks were spotted in the gravel pits there.Manaigre said it wasn't known yet if the tracks were Johnson's when speaking to CBC News Saturday.

Three main search teams withGPSwere expected to conduct a grid search of that area Saturday afternoon,Manaigresaid, walking the area back and forth in a line, about six metres apart, then inputting the data into a map to track which areas have been covered.

He said the expansive searchincluded a helicopter, a police dog and drones with infrared capability.

Manaigrealso toldCBCNews Saturday searchers had been combing through wooded areas, and checking trails, roads, sheds and construction equipment, as well asgoing door to doorlooking for the child.