A father is on a relentless quest to locate his three sons who disappeared from Ontario last November, raising concerns that local police may have overlooked crucial opportunities to assist in their recovery.
His ex-wife, 55-year-old Astrid Schiller, is accused of abducting the children and has been evading authorities for several months. The mother and her three sons—Leon, 12, Christopher, 11, and Thomas, 9—were reported missing in December.
On November 17, 2023, the father was headed to pick up his children after being granted 50/50 custody following the dismissal of an abuse claim just days before. “I called the school to inform them that I was on my way with a fresh court order. Someone must have tipped her off, as she took the kids and fled shortly before I arrived,” he explained.
Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Schiller on January 24, on charges of parental abduction and violating a court order.
Where Are Astrid Schiller and the Boys?
Despite limited sightings, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported in June that the family was spotted multiple times. Although Schiller was detained temporarily, she was released due to the limits of the Ontario arrest warrant.
The search is ongoing, as authorities believe they may be camping in parks throughout Saskatchewan Province. A tip led the RCMP to Schiller attempting to cross the border into the U.S. during a tornado on June 16.
While the children were temporarily taken into care, police released Schiller after determining the warrant was not applicable in Manitoba. The father mentioned that Durham police declined to extend the arrest warrant nationwide. “They could have kept her for several days while obtaining a broader warrant, but they opted not to,” he noted, expressing frustration over missed opportunities to bring his sons home sooner.
After her release, Schiller reportedly searched for the foster home housing her children, threatening their safety. Information suggested that she may have managed to track down her oldest son due to Manitoba’s policy of allowing children to keep their cell phones.
Police then suspected Schiller had taken the boys again on June 17. Although they reviewed nearby surveillance footage, many cameras were inoperative because of the tornado, preventing them from locating the children quickly.
They were last seen in Assiniboia before moving to Pine Cree Regional Park in Saskatchewan on June 19—a revelation that deeply concerns the father.
Who is Astrid Schiller?
Schiller has connections to a far-right anti-LGBTQ+ group called Stand4Thee, which promotes fringe theories related to education and healthcare. This group was involved in protests against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa in 2022 and has recently campaigned against inclusive education practices.
In a Zoom call from October 2023, Schiller advocated against sexual orientation discussions in schools, asserting her son Leon would not participate and would not answer personal questions regarding his identity. She even initiated legal actions against his school for what she perceived as discrimination.
‘Stuck in the Middle’
The father expressed frustration over the lack of communication from the authorities since June. “They’ve basically handed the investigation over to the RCMP, which has left me feeling lost in the process,” he said.
What’s Next
Determined to reunite with his sons, the father is taking matters into his own hands. “I want the boys to know they are deeply loved and missed,” he asserted.
He has joined forces with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to roll out billboard campaigns nationwide, hoping someone might recognize Schiller or the boys as they continue to evade capture.