The family of missing Merritt cowboy and Nicola Ranch manager Ben Tyner has made a plea for anyone with information in his disappearance.
Ben’s mother Jennifer, father Richard and brother Jack spoke about him in the past tense.
Jennifer says her son Ben loved life and says the family would be forever grateful for anyone with tips that will help find him.
“To say that we are heartbroken is an understatement,” she says. “Our hearts are shattered and our lives have been thrown into turmoil.”
Ben’s brother Jack says there’s no words to describe the family’s feeling of loss.
“When I look at what my brother accomplished with his short life in his short time here, it truly amazes me,” he says. “I really hope in some way he knows how much he accomplished and how much he is loved. And the hole in our family will never be replaced. I won’t ever hear him laugh, feel his strong handshake again, his deep voice.”
The RCMP Major Crime Unit is still in Merritt investigating Tyner’s disappearance, but police have no evidence to say foul play was involved.
The 32-year-old Tyner was last seen on Jan. 26 before being reported missing two days later.
Merritt RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore says search crews have done several smaller searches since the larger search ended more than a week ago.
Meanwhile, Dunsmore is advising the community not to put stock into rumors surrounding the Tyner case.
A rumour was going around that Tyner had been found, and she says any official information would come from police.
“We are committed to updating the community if there is any major developments in the case, so any rumors or theories that have been thrown out to this point are not true. So we want to make sure that the community listens to our information, and supports each other as we go ahead,” she says.
A tip line – 1-877-987-8477 – has been set up specifically for the Tyner investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to reach out.
To summarize… there are no new leads in the search for Ben Tyner, and police still have no evidence to say foul play is involved in his disappearance. The RCMP E-Division Major Crime Unit though is still in #Merritt assisting in the investigation. @RadioNLNews #Kamloops
— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) February 13, 2019
Ben’s brother says “the whole in our family will never be replaced. I will never hear him laugh, feel his strong handshake again, or hear his deep voice.” #Merritt pic.twitter.com/WAaJUOAJwu
— Colton Davies (@ColtonDavies_) February 13, 2019