Amber Lucius death: Amber Alert protocols were followed, say RCMP

RCMP say officers acted in compliance with Amber Alert protocols in the case ofa nine-year-old girlfound dead near Sundre earlier this month.

• RCMP probe Amber Alert decision in Amber Lucius' death
• Young girl found dead near Sundrecaught in custody battle, saycourt documents
• Amber Lucius, 9, identified as young girl found dead near Sundre

Amber Lucius was visiting with her mother, Laura Coward, on the Labour Day long weekend andwas supposed to be returned by 6 p.m. that Sunday.

Court documents detail a lengthy custody battle between the girl's parents. She lived with her father, Duane Lucius, near the small community of Millet,south of Edmonton.

The documents saywhenCoward failed to return their daughter on Aug. 31, her estranged husband went to Coward's home and discovered the woman had moved out.

He then calledthe Wetaskiwin RCMPto report Amber as missing.

The girl's body was found in a vehicle two days later.An Amber Alert was never issued.

In one affidavit, Lucius wrote that he and the RCMP searched for the girl together. He said he believed Coward had fled the jurisdiction with their daughter.

Mounties said a hang-up 911 call on Sept. 2 led them to the girl's body. Coward was located outside the vehicle and arrested.

Investigators have not released how the girl died.

Coward, 47, is charged with first-degree murder.Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 6.