‘Travis, I’m really appealing to you’: Bret McCann’s plea to murder suspect released in court

Nearly three weeks after his parents went missing in 2010, Bret McCann made an emotional plea to the man accused in their death.

During his testimony, court heard that on July 23, 2010, Bret McCann, son of St. Albert couple Lyle and Marie McCann, reached out to Travis Vader in hopes of finding his parents safe and sound.

"I understand that you may have some information as to their whereabouts," McCann said in an audio plea, crafted with the help of the RCMP. "Travis, my parents have been missing now for two weeks. This is just agony for our family."

TIMELINE: The key events in the Travis Vader case

McCann went into details about his family, explaining he and his siblings all have children. He said his father was a truck driver and worked very hard throughout his life while his mother stayed home and looked after him and his brother and sister.

"I know that you ran into some troubles but I know that deep down you’re a decent man," the audio recording states. "Travis, I know you’re younger than me but I know that you have children of your own and at one point you had a, you know, a really nice family life.

"My brother, my sister, their kids, my aunts, my uncles, everybody is just frantic about this and I know that you can help us bring some closure to this."

READ MORE: Lyle and Marie McCann remembered by their son at suspect’s murder trial

During cross examination, McCann was questioned if the statement was truthful. He told court it was made to appeal to Vader’s "better nature." McCann told court "parts of it I know are true. Other parts I’m speculating about Vader."

McCann also told court he received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be Vader’s son.

The audio recording was made 20 days after Lyle and Marie were last seen fuelling up their motorhome in their hometown of St. Albert. It’s not known if Vader ever heard it.

When he finished his testimony Wednesday, McCann told court he would like to make a statement which the judge would not allow.

Later Wednesday, Rolf Wenaas took the stand. The former Minnow Lake Campground worker testified he saw a green motorhome at campsite number eight in the early morning of July 5, 2010.

Wenaas was making rounds and clearing garbage at around 6:30 a.m. when he said he noticed the motorhome had been backed in and a green SUV was parked beside the motorhome.

Wenaas said the curtains were closed and the motorhome didn’t appear to be jacked up. He said he noticed there wasn’t a registration envelope in the money box for the unit. The cost to camp for one night was $22, he said.

Wenaas testified he knocked on the motorhome door but nobody answered.

Wenaas told court he left a money envelope under the SUV’s windshield and left. He returned a few hours later, at around 12:30 p.m., and said he banged on the motorhome door again but nobody answered. He said he waited for 20 minutes then left.

Later that evening, the McCanns’ burning motorhome was discovered near the campground. Wenaas testified the burning motorhome was found about a kilometre from campsite number eight.

READ MORE: Court hears burned McCann motorhome moved 3 times before investigator called in

Earlier this week, McCann testified that he last saw his parents on the evening of July 2, 2010, the night before they were scheduled to leave for their camping trip to British Columbia.

The couple’s RV was found on fire in the bush near Edson on July 5. An SUV they had been towing was found off a bush trail near Edson on July 16, the same day Vader was named a person of interest in the case.

Vader has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the McCanns’ deaths.

Watch below: Global News’ ongoing coverage of Travis Vader’s first-degree murder trial

© Shaw Media, 2016