Update

Where is 4 Year Old Saginaw Chippewa Carnel Chamberlain?

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Currents. Discussion »

ISABELLA INDIAN RESERVATION – The search for Saginaw Chippewa Carnel Chamberlain continued on Monday on the Isabella Indian Reservation in mid-Michigan. The four year boy has been missing since last Thursday night.

Both Pictures are of Carnel Chamberlain Age 4

Did he wander off into the dark woods near his home? Or did he meet foul play by his mother's boyfriend who has been reportedly uncooperative to the police and FBI?

These are the questions that confront the family of the young Indian boy on this reservation in mid-Michigan.

His mother, Jaimee Chamberlain, reported Carnel missing at 10:12 pm after she arrived home from working at the nearby Soaring Eagle Casino restaurant where she is employed. Carnel, whose nickname is"Carnie" is her only child.

The case is registered with the National Center Missing & Exploited Children.

“The case is still considered 'suspicious' at this point,”

according to a news release that was released on Monday afternoon by the public relations department of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan.

Young Carnel was in the care of his mother's boyfriend, Anthony M. Bennett, 20, who is a tribal member, while she was working.

Since Saturday morning, Bennett has been considered a "person of interest"by law enforcement. Though Bennett is a person of interest, he has not been arrested.

Jaimee Chamberlain as Search Party Assembled at Nimkee Medical Clinic

“I have been talking to authorities most of the day,”

commented Jaimee Chamberlain, 21, young Carnel's mother, to the Native News Network late Monday afternoon.

“They have talked to everyone in my family, except maybe a couple of cousins.”

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police department is serving as the lead law enforcement. The Chamberlain home is on Indian trust land. The FBI is part of the investigation, as well as other law enforcement agencies from around Michigan.

On Sunday, the Michigan State Police searched the tribal land with cadaver dogs. On Monday, law officers from Ottawa County, located some 110 miles southwest of the reservation brought in sonar equipment to search a pond near the Chamberlain home. They discovered nothing.

On Monday night, a Michigan newspaper reported a warrant was issued to search and obtain certain items from the Chamberlain home. Neighbors reported law enforcement officers carried out boxes.

Members of the community searching on their own, please contact the Tribal Police should you come across items that are suspicious in nature at 989.775.4700 or the Tip Line 989.775.4775.

posted June 26, 2012 7:00 am edt