Cdrika Provencher's grandfather visits site where girl's remains found

HenriProvencher says it feels like a chapter has closednow that the remains of his granddaughterhave been found.

On Monday, hevisited the site nearwhere Cdrika Provencher'sskull was found.

You lose something at home and you look all over your house, you look everywhere, and when you find ityou think 'I should've looked there in thefirst place.Henri Provencher

He's the first member of the family to speak directly with media sincea trio of hunters discovered Cdrika's skull in the woods on Friday.

Provencherhelped co-ordinate volunteer search efforts when his granddaughter first went missing. He said that as far as he knows, they never looked in that spot.

"It's strange .You lose something at home and you look all over your house, you look everywhere, and when you find ityou think 'I should've looked there in the first place.'That's what it's like. Except it's a little girl, it's not a set of keys you've lost."

• TIMELINE: The search for Cdrika Provencher
• Cdrika Provencher's family begins to mourn her death
• Hunter who found Cdrika Provencher's remains speaks out
• Cdrika Provencher, missing since 2007, found dead

He said police have been doing "phenomenal" work, and that he will always be thankful to the hunters who found her remains.

Provencher added that Cdrika's parents are feeling a"bizarre" combination of emotions right now. He said they're going through"amix of sadness and consolation to know that it's over."

Police intensify search for evidence

More than 200 officers are combing througha densely wooded area northeast of Montreal in the hopes of finding more evidence in the case, which has frustrated investigators for eight years.

SretduQubecSgt.DanielThibaudeausaid Monday policedecided to dispatch 200specially trained officers to the scene in an attempt togather as many clues as possiblebefore snow accumulates in the area.

Cdrikawas last seenoutside near her home, searching for someone's lost dog on a July evening in 2007.

A group of hunters came acrossCdrika's skull on Friday, in an isolated stretch ofwilderness on the eastern outskirts ofTrois-Rivires.

The discovery has injected hopethat thecase might be solved.

In a short statement, police said the investigation was continuing and the force would offer no further comment Monday.

On Sunday, Martin Prud'homme, the police force's directorgeneral,said the case had "progressed" since the discovery, but wouldn't offer any specifics about the investigation.

No one has been arrested in connection with Cdrika's death.

She went missing onJuly 31, 2007, near her homeinTrois-Rivires.

Police sayshe wasapproached by an adult who asked for help to finda missing dog.She was neverseen again.

Looking for clues

Franois Dor, a retiredSretduQubec officer who worked on the case, described the discoveryof theremains as "a major step" in the investigation.

He said police will be looking for clothing, a weapon, the rest of her remains or anything else that may provide clues, pointing out that DNA identification has improved substantially sinceCdrika went missing in 2007.

Police have had a suspect in mind but lacked enough evidence to lay charges,Dorsaid.

He said he's "hopeful and careful" the development in the casecould lead to an arrest.

Mourning begins for family

On Sunday, Cdrika's father, Martin Provencher,wrote on Facebookthatthe family could start mourning at last, thanking everyone for their unwavering support since she disappeared.

"Youhave helped us overcome another step in this horrible tragedy."