GoFundMe to support mother amid ongoing search for missing child

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A GoFundMe raising funds to support a mom linked to a now-cancelled Amber Alert originating in Alberta and spanning into B.C. hopes to raise $14,000 to cover lawyer fees.

On July 8, police in Beaverlodge, Alberta, issued an amber alert for 6-year-old Lanakai Morrison. 

At the time, police said they believed Lanakai was possibly with his mother, Krista Morrison, 35 and a male, Daniel Ludwig, 35 and another youth, Karl Morrison, aged 4. 

On July 9, police said the group’s last known location was Fort St. John. 

In another update on July 17, the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit said it continues to seek assistance in locating the missing children.

According to police, indications point to the couple being near Vernon, possibly heading towards the Kootenays, Northern B.C., the Yukon or Alberta and is believed to be travelling in a 2006 Red Ford F350 with a lift and larger tires. The group could also be driving in a motorhome.   

The Amber Alert was later cancelled in both Alberta and B.C., on July 10, despite the 6-year-old boy still missing. 

A GoFundMe to raise funds for a lawyer for Morrison has since been set up by Benjamin Ludwig, Morrison’s father-in-law and the father of the 35-year-old Ludwig. 

“I am fundraising for Krista to be able to get a good lawyer to help her to defend herself from having Lanakai taken from her,” the donation page reads.

“Many of you have seen the Amber Alerts that show she and my son Daniel, along with my beautiful little grandsons, Lanakai and Karl, are hiding from law enforcement because they fear for Lanakai’s safety,” the page continued. 

According to the page, Morrison and Ludwig lack the means to hire a “qualified, trustworthy lawyer.” 

Since the Amber Alert was issued on July 8, rumours have been circulating around social media about alleged mistreatment experienced by Lanakai at the hands of his biological father. 

According to the GoFundMe, Ludwig and Morrison met around 2015, shortly after which they began a “common-law marriage relationship.” 

“During the following years, [Ludwig and Morrison] faced the trials that many young couples face,” the page said. “As a consequence, Krista had a brief dalliance with Alistair Ewart and became pregnant.”

A dalliance usually refers to a casual or short-term romantic relationship. 

The GoFundMe said Ludwig originally believed the child was his, but was later informed of the truth. 

After getting their relationship back on track, Ludwig agreed to act as Lanakai’s father, according to the GoFundMe. 

Ewart later learned of his parentage of Lanakai and started exploring visitation rights.

The GoFundMe says Ewart has recently been pursuing more visitation and guardian rights, which Morrison and Ludwig oppose because of the “confusion” for Lanakai, who they believe is in a stable family, and because of a lack of relationship with Ewart.  

On the GoFundMe, it is alleged that Lanakai returned from a parental visit with Ewart with an “altered” attitude. 

The GoFundMe said Lanakai hit his brother Karl and said he wasn’t his real brother while using foul language. 

Morrison and Ludwig asked Lanakai where he had picked up the behaviours. 

According to the GoFundMe, Lanakai began revealing very disturbing things that had allegedly occurred with Ewart. 

Ludwig’s father said, despite not knowing if the events had actually occurred, the alleged incidents made the family hesitant to allow continued visitation with Ewart until the issue was investigated. 

On June 23, during a court hearing to grant Ewart the opportunity to take Lanakai to Calgary, Morrison requested the court look into allegations of Ewart’s behaviour around Lanakai.

“In this courtroom, Krista’s desperate attitude angered the female judge, who granted Alistair his visit,” the post said. 

Due to her persistence, the court set a new custody hearing for the allegations in October and said no alterations to visiting rights would be granted until the hearing. 

The GoFundMe said Morisson and Ludwig refused to bring Lanakai to the airport for a visit with Ewart. 

The donation page mentions documentation sent by the couple to Ewart’s lawyer, claiming the order was issued due to a “failure of the court” to consider Morisson’s concerns. 

According to the GoFundMe, the judge involved in the initial June 23 hearing, who had early “recused” herself from the case, granted full custody to Ewart. 

Following this decision, Morisson and Ludwig decided to flee with both Lanakai and Karl, according to the donation page.  

“They need help to get this matter settled,” according to the GoFundMe. 

The donation page said the couple is in need of a lawyer to get the matters before the court and to negotiate terms for surrendering to police without the risk of Lanakai being handed over to Ewart or having the boys placed in foster homes.

The GoFundMe pleads with the public to “find it in their heart” to help them for the sake of the boys. 

For more information, view the GoFundMe.