ROOPESH Rajkumar, 41, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his 11-year-old daughter, Riya, in a case of parental abduction.

Ontario’s Peel Regional Police said the investigation began on Thursday, February 14, just before 7 p.m., when the girl’s mother reported to police that her daughter had not been returned home at the expected time after having being out with her father. The mother was further concerned for the wellbeing of the two of them when Roopesh Rajkumar made comments indicating that he was going to harm himself and his daughter.

Peel Regional Police immediately initiated an investigation using a number of investigative techniques in an attempt to locate the father and daughter. Once all of the criteria were met, an Amber Alert was issued.

Later that evening, Riya was located dead in a residence in the area of Queen Street and Hansen Road in Brampton. Roopesh Rajkumar was located and arrested by Ontario Provincial Police in the Township of Oro-Medonte as a result of information provided in the Amber Alert.

Riya was enrolled in Grade 5 at Meadowvale Village Public School in Mississauga.

Peel Regional Police maintain custody of Roopesh Rajkumar who is currently in a trauma centre in relation to a medical condition.  He will attend court in Brampton once he is medically cleared.

Peel Regional Police tweeted on Friday after receiving complaints that the Amber Alert was issued so late at night: “Our communications bureau is receiving numerous calls to 9-1-1, complaining about the late hour of the Amber Alert. As a direct result of someone receiving the alert, we were able to locate the suspect & his vehicle. The system works. Thank you to all those that called with tips.”

Those who had complained came under severe criticism by other members of the public.