Arrest warrant issued for Vancouver Island dad in abduction investigation

Posted March 23, 2022 9:44 am.

Last Updated April 21, 2022 11:38 am.

Editor’s note: The missing child in this story was located safe and sound on April 20, 2022. The name and image have been removed from this story.

An arrest warrant has been issued and charges are being recommended against a Vancouver Island dad who is believed to have abducted his seven-year-old daughter on Jan. 24.

Initially, police in Duncan had appealed to the public for help in finding the girl after her father failed to return her to her mother.

On Wednesday, March 23, the RCMP announced it had “gathered sufficient evidence to recommend a criminal charge” against the man.

“As a result, a warrant for his arrest has been issued by a Provincial Court,” a statement reads in part.

Jesse Bennett is wanted for abduction in contravention of a custody order, Mounties say.

Previously, the girl’s godmother described the emotional toll her disappearance has had on her mother, Roget.

“It’s very stressful to not know where your family is. No matter what people reassure you with — living with the unknown is really just gut-wrenching,” Avery Myall told CityNews in February. “She’s stressed, she’s overwhelmed. We feel like we need to be moving and doing something at every moment, but it feels like right now that any way forward is just frozen. I think that’s the worst part for her, is she feels like everything’s just happening around her.”

Jesse is described as a 36-year-old man who is 5’10” tall, weighs about 160 lbs, and has blue eyes and brown hair, which may be shaved or covered by a hat. He also had a beard.

Mounties say the man “could be anywhere in Canada at this point” but that the search for him continues.

Anyone who has any information about where Jesse may be is asked to contact their local police or the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250.748.5522.

-With files from Katarina Szulc and Lisa Steacy

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