The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has been called in to help with the search of missing Merritt man Ben Tyner.
In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 6), police say local residents may see a heavier police presence around town and surrounding areas.
Tyner was reported missing on Jan. 28, when his riderless horse was found on a logging road off Highway 97 near Winnie Flats. The 32-year-old was last seen on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Nicola Ranch where he'd been hired as a manager in November.
Mounties, search and rescue teams, air services, police dogs and volunteers then proceeded to comb the area on foot, in vehicles, on snowmobiles, on horseback, and on utility vehicles.
"Sadly, Mr. Tyner was not located," reads the release.
The official search was suspended on Sunday (Feb. 3) following seven days of searching.
Sgt. Janelle Shoihet with the Lower Mainland District says it's not unusual for small RCMP detachments to lean on the crime unit for investigations.
"At this point, really, the major crime unit has been called in just to ensure that there haven’t been any missing links and there’s nothing we could do to advance that investigation that already hasn’t been done."
Shoihet adds there's no evidence to date to suspect foul play, and there hasn't been any new evidence in the last three days.
"We're looking at all options and we'll continue to investigate if there's something new."
Shoihet couldn't confirm if the missing-person case points to Tyner being deceased.
"If he’s been out in the elements, we need to be realistic about the fact he’s been out in the elements," she says. "If something did happen to him, he got bucked off the horse...and he’s been underneath the snow or something, the chances are slim. That being said, until there’s some definitive evidence to say that he is no longer living, we’re going to hold out hope and we’re going to pursue the investigation and go back through all the tracks we’ve already gone through, and do our best to locate him."
Tyner is described as:
- Around 6'3''
- 240 lbs
- Dark hair and beard
- Normally wears a black and red woolen hat with ear flaps
Anyone with information about Tyner's disappearance is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 and cite file 2019-433.
Editor's note: This story was updated at 8 p.m. on Feb. 6 to include comment from Sgt. Janelle Shoihet from the Lower Mainland District.
