A BRITISH man has been arrested over the suspected murder of a mother and her one-year-old daughter in Canada.
Robert Leeming, 34, claimed he “did nothing wrong” after being questioned over the disappearance of his tenant Jasmine Lovett, 25, and her daughter Aliyah Sanderson.
The pair were last seen by witnesses on April 16.
But they were only reported missing a week later when they did not show up for a family dinner.
Police have searched woods in Southern Alberta, in the west of the country, for the victims.
They have had to suspend their search because of a heavy snow storm.
Leeming is understood to come from a military background.
They will find nothing because I did nothing wrong
Robert Leeming
Records show he was born on a British Army base in Germany and later lived in Wiltshire.
He is said to have moved to Canada in 2013 and claims to have permanent residence in the country.
After being questioned by police, he was released, but still identified as a “prime suspect”.
He said: “They will find nothing because I did nothing wrong.”
Leeming said he had previously been in an intimate relationship with Miss Lovett, who had lived with him for the past seven months, and that he had “no issue with them at all”.
Describing how he was “traumatised” by the experience, he said he last saw Miss Lovett on April 18 but had no idea what happened to the pair afterwards.
Miss Lovett’s bank card has been used for an online delivery, but police said they did not know who made the purchase or where it was sent.
They believe she and her child are dead.
The baby’s aunt, Josie Sanderson, described little Aliyah as happy and smart.
She told CBC News: “‘I really just want them found – that’s it. I want some closure.”
She added: “Jasmine was a really good mother. She would never put her daughter in any danger willingly like that.”
A police spokesman said: “The suspect that police arrested has been released and no charges have been laid, however, he remains the primary suspect in the case.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
