RCMP in southern Alberta say investigators believe they’ve found the body of a toddler, who was the subject of an Amber Alert that lasted more than a day.

“It is my very sad duty to inform you tonight that we have found the body of 2-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette in a rural location near Blairmore, Alberta,” RCMP Supt. Tony Hamori said in the news conference.

Late Tuesday night, RCMP said human remains had been found that afternoon in a rural area near Blairmore, Alberta during a police search based on information officers received while trying to find the girl.

“This is a sad day for investigators, the citizens of Blairmore and all the Canadians who hoped Hailey would be found and returned unharmed,” Hamori said.

Family members, friends and residents of Blairmore were attending a candle lit vigil Tuesday night when Victim Services officials said human remains had been found.

"This is obviously not the outcome that our community was hoping for," Blairmore Mayor Blair Painter said. "This is going to devastate our community and it's going to take us a long time to heal from this."

Two-year-old Hailey Dunbar-Blanchette had been the subject of an Amber Alert first issued after 2 p.m. Monday.

It was believed she had been abducted at about 3:30 a.m. Monday from her home in Blairmore, Alberta.

Police were first called to the home at about 11:15 a.m. that day after a family member went to the home, and found the body of Terry Blanchette, 27, identified as Hailey’s father. That suspicious death is being treated as a homicide.

Meanwhile, a male suspect who was arrested in Blairmore earlier in the day remains in custody for questioning in connection to the investigation into Blanchette’s death, in addition to Hailey’s disappearance.

RCMP said the suspect’s identity will be released when charges are laid; late Tuesday night RCMP said charges are pending.

Police said they were no longer looking for a white van included with the Amber Alert.

An update on the case is expected from RCMP at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

With files from Serena Mah