Missing couple's SUV found near Edson, Alta.

The RCMPsaid Friday they havefound an SUV belonging to an Alberta couple who were last seen on July 3 and they are huntingfor a man with a long criminal record.

TheSUV was found in an area near Highway 16 and Range Road 144, about 30 kilometres east of Edson, Alta.

The scene is closeto the Minnow Lake campground where the missing couple'sburned motorhome was found July 5.

Police have cordoned off the area and investigators are conducting a forensic examination of the Hyundai Tucson vehicle. They released an aerial photograph early Friday evening that shows the back of the vehicle in the trees.

"We consider this foul play," RCMP Assistant Commissioner Peter Hourihan saidFriday afternoon aboutthe disappearance of Lyle McCann, 78, and his wife, Marie McCann, 77.

The McCanns left St. Albert, Alta., on July 3 headed for British Columbia and have not been seen since.

The discovery of the SUV was announced a couple ofhours after policesaid they were looking for a specific"person of interest," considered dangerous, in the case.

Police saidthey want to knowthe whereabouts of Travis Edward Vader,38, originally of Niton Junction, Alta., but currently of no fixed address. His Facebook page lists his hometown as Summerland, B.C.

Police are not calling him a suspect and say they just want to talk to him.

Vader has multiple outstanding warrants on unrelated matters and is known to haveused firearms illegally, Hourihan said.

Hourihan said Vader should be considered dangerousandpeople should not approach him.He said theyshould simply contact police if they have information about Vader, whoalso has a history of drug abuse.

Family encouraged by progress in case

CBC News has learned Vader has a long criminal history dating back to 1995 in Barrhead, Alta., when hewas convicted ofstealinga vehicle.

In August 2009, police laid 13 charges against him, including possession of break-in tools, driving a motor vehicle while unauthorized, operating an irregular motor vehicle and trailer, as well asa couple of weapons charges.

Last December,Vader was charged with stealing and burning a pickup truck.

He failed to appear in court on June 21 on the August 2009 charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On June 25, more charges were laid in Barrhead, including careless use of a firearm andunauthorized possessionof a firearm.

Police said Vader only came to their attention within the last 24 hours.

The McCanns' son, Bret McCann, said the fact police now suspect foul play in his parents' disappearance is "pretty scary," but he was encouraged by what investigators have been able to uncover.

"This has certainly given us new hope that there is some progress being made on this case," he said.

Couple have 7 children

Vader's ex-wife, Victoria Vader, who lives in Summerland B.C., said she didn't know her former husband was being sought by police.

"I have no idea what he's doing or where he's at," she said, adding she thought he was in Alberta.

According to court documents obtained by CBC News, the Vaders haveseven children between the ages of seven and 18. The couple stopped living together in May 2004.

In an affidavit in support of a restraining order filed in June 2005, Victoria Vader alleged her husband kept trying to reconcile with her,and called her constantly, sometimes as often as 16 times a day. He even called her parents' house asking where she was, she alleged.

In the court document, she said that her then-husband's behaviour was becoming "increasingly bizarre."

On Friday, Vader said Travis was a heavy drinker who loved to party.

A family member who corresponded with CBC News through Facebook on Friday said she didn't know where Travis Vader was.

"I am unsure of his whereabouts as myself and my family have not heard from him, nor do we expect to," his sister, Alicia Vader, wrote. "Our hearts go out to the McCann family and we hope these developments lead to finding them.

"We can only hope and pray that he is just a person of interest at this point, and that the McCanns will be found safe."

RV found on fire July 5

TheMcCannswere usinga 1999 green-and-white Gulf Stream Sun Voyager recreational vehicle and towingtheSUV. They intendedto be in Abbotsford, B.C., to meet their daughter at the airport on July 10 but never arrived.

TheRV was found on fire at the Minnow Lake campgroundon July 5 but theirSUV, bearing Alberta licence plate ZPK 289, was missing.

Hourihan also addressed criticism aboutthe RCMP, whodidn't launch an investigation into the McCanns' disappearance until five days after the burned RV was found.

It wasrevealed Thursday thatthe RCMP didn't takecontact information froma father and daughter from Prince Georgewho reported seeing a Hyundai Tucson SUV in the B.C. city on July 8.

"A couple of mistakes have been made, I acknowledge that."Hourihan said.He admitted police were "a bit slow in getting going" after themotorhome was found because information wasn't passed on.

An internalreview is underway and one RCMP officer in Edson has been placed on administrative duties, Hourihan said. Police have received more than 100 tips in the investigation.