DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVDENCE
A missing Fort Providence man who has been the subject of an intensive search for almost a month now is also wanted by police on sex-related charges.

Delmer Bonnetrouge has been missing from Fort Providence since April 21.

RCMP confirm there is an arrest warrant out for Delmer Bonnetrouge, 35, after he missed a court date on April 15.

He also missed a court date in Fort Providence on May 11 of last year.

Bonnetrouge was charged with child luring, sexual assault and sexual interference in January of 2014.

RCMP have confirmed he was arrested since missing his May court appearance but they could not give an arrest date. Bonnetrouge was reported as last being seen in Fort Providence on April 21.

News/North tried to access Bonnetrouge's court file in Hay River on May 15 but was told it was not available because he hasn't made his first appearance in court yet.

RCMP made no mention of the arrest warrant in three separate missing person news releases about Bonnetrouge, the latest issued on May 15.

Bonnetrouge is the son of Deh Gah Got'ie Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge. The man is described as aboriginal, 5' 7" tall and weighing 175 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

According to a missing persons poster circulated by the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, he was last seen wearing a black canvas jacket and all-white Adidas sneakers. He is also a Type 2 diabetic.

Despite reported sightings since April 21, including one in Hay River, he remains out of contact with his family.

The community has been holding concerted ground searches by foot and quad vehicles since he was reported missing.

In the words of searcher Margaret Thom, "It's like he disappeared into thin air."

"He always lets his parents know where he is. He always has an open line of communication. And this time, nothing," Thom said, noting the Bonnetrouge family was hoping he would call on Mother's Day - which he did not.

"All the community and the family want is for him, if he's out there alive and well, to make contact. No questions asked. Delmer, call home," she said.

Thom told News/North she does not know Bonnetrouge personally but she remembers seeing him around the community.

That in itself is a lesson for the community, she says, to take the time to connect with others.

"We need to pay more attention and take more time to visit with people. We need to make time for each other and not be so preoccupied with things that we don't get to know people," she said.

Since he went missing the community has rallied around the Bonnetrouge family and the searchers are not quitting.

Food, water and gas have all been donated, as well as money, to aid searchers. Thom said the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation has been at the forefront of resource donations and is allowing searchers to use their lunch kitchen, which has been their makeshift muster point for more than three weeks.

But so far leads and information have only turned up dead ends and an extensive aerial search around the community also turned up nothing.

"It's coming to a point where people are frustrated - the searchers, the family, just not knowing if he's dead or alive ... it gets pretty exhausting, emotionally. The unknown is so frustrating," Thom said.

"Our primary focus is for him to call, a quick one-second phone call just to say, 'It's me, Delmer, I'm alive and well.' That's all. The search will stop. It would be a relief for the parents, the family and the community."

RCMP said the family has been co-operative.

"We don't believe the family is hiding him or concealing where he is in any way," said Const. Brian Kukhta of the Fort Providence RCMP detachment. Anybody with information of his whereabouts should contact the Fort Providence detachment or Crime Stoppers.

- with files from Sarah Ladik

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