**Man Charged with Murder of Missing Edmonton Teen**

EDMONTON - A 38-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Samuel Bird, whose remains were found in a rural area outside Edmonton. The Edmonton Police Service announced the charges on Thursday, following the discovery of Bird's body after he had been missing since June 1.

Samuel Bird was last seen leaving his mother’s home in west Edmonton to visit a friend. Surveillance footage captured him walking through the grounds of Holy Cross School around 8:30 p.m. that evening. He was later seen at a friend's house near 150th Street and 106th Avenue. His disappearance prompted extensive searches by volunteers and police, as well as widespread community efforts to locate him.

Bryan Farrell, the man charged, faces multiple offenses in addition to murder. These include interfering with a body, aggravated assault, arson, unauthorized possession of a firearm, and assaulting a peace officer with a weapon. In total, he has been charged with 13 offenses. Police have stated that they are not seeking any additional suspects in the case.

Bird's mother, Alanna Bird, confirmed the news of her son's remains being found on social media. The police investigation had previously indicated that Bird's disappearance was being treated as a criminal matter, with investigators believing he was deceased and that his body had been concealed.

Detective Jared Buhler, the lead investigator, expressed hope that the charges would bring some resolution to Bird's family. "After a lengthy and complex investigation, we are pleased to be able to conclude this file and hopefully bring some measure of resolution and justice to Samuel’s loved ones, who have been searching tirelessly for him," Buhler said in a news release.

Samuel Bird was a member of the Paul First Nation. His case has drawn significant attention in the community, with posters bearing his name and image displayed throughout Edmonton as the search for him continued for months. The police investigation remains ongoing as they work to gather more information related to the case.