Boy's body found

Photo: The Canadian Press

UPDATE: 3:57 p.m.

RCMP in Manitoba say there were no "obvious signs of foul play" in the death of two-year-old Chase Martens and it appears it was just a terrible tragedy.

The little boy's body was found in a creek Saturday afternoon near the community of Austin after a search by hundreds of volunteers that had been underway since Tuesday.

Police held a news conference saying they're not looking at foul play in the case but a team of investigators would be working to determine how the little boy died.

Police say it appears the boy walked away from his front yard.

An autopsy is to be conducted Sunday.

RCMP in Manitoba say the body of a two-year-old boy who had been missing since vanishing from his rural home earlier this week has been found.

Police made the announcement about Chase Martens via Twitter on Saturday afternoon.

A second Tweet from the RCMP that followed the announcement thanked other agencies and the thousands of volunteers who assisted with the search for the boy.

The search involved hundreds of people on foot and horseback, driving ATVs and in the air.

On Thursday, the boy's parents pleaded for any information that might lead to a reunion with their son, saying it would be unusual for Chase to wander off the property without the family dog.

The search expanded on Friday to an area up to four kilometres from the home.