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Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

Couple charged in abduction of Maryk children

By: Staff Writer

Wednesday, Sep. 19, 2012 at 8:51 AM

WINNIPEG free press archives Emily Cablek is seen reunited with her two children, Abby and Dominic, in May of this year.

A Winnipeg couple has been charged for allegedly playing a role in the abduction of the Maryk children four years ago.

Darlene McKay, 53, and Bradley McKay, 48, are each charged with two counts of abduction by concealment and two counts of obstructing justice, police said Tuesday.

It's believed Abby and Dominic Maryk, then seven and five years old, were abducted four years ago by their father, Kevin Maryk, and taken to Mexico, with the help of several friends and family members. The children were found safe in late May of this year at a home in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Kevin Maryk and the children's mother, Emily Cablek, were involved in a custody dispute before their disappearance in August 2008. A court ruled Cablek had primary care of the children and their father had visitation rights.

The children went missing after their father took them on vacation.

Maryk was last seen at a car-rental agency on King Edward Street. When he didn't return, police issued a Canada-wide warrant for him and his nephew, Cody McKay. Robert Groen, Maryk's former neighbour, is also accused of helping with the abduction.

Local officials took Maryk and Groen into custody earlier this year.

Groen was extradited back to Canada July 19 and returned to Winnipeg the next day. He faces charges of conspiracy to commit abduction and failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking. He is being held in custody.

An extradition process is underway to return Maryk to Winnipeg, as he remains in custody in Mexico.

The McKays are the parents of Cody McKay, who was also allegedly involved in the children's abduction. There is an outstanding arrest warrant for McKay.

Cody McKay is Maryk's nephew.

Police would not detail the McKays' involvement in the abduction but said the couple's arrest is an important piece of the investigation.

"They are pieces of a very large puzzle that members of the missing persons unit are slowly putting together," WPS spokesman Patrol Sgt. Wally Antoniuk said, adding the last piece will be the arrest of the McKay's son, Cody McKay.

Family members of Cody McKay set up a Facebook page in May urging his return.