Two years later, and still no sign of Merritt cowboy Ben Tyner, and his family is renewing a plea to help find him.
Tyner was last seen on Jan. 26, 2019, and was reported missing two days later when his rider-less horse was found on a logging road off of Highway 97C, towards Mamit Lake.
The Southeast District Major Crime Unit has been involved in the investigation since its early days, but it wasn’t until nearly two months after Tyner went missing that police confirmed his disappearance as suspicious.
Today, for the first time, police have said outright that Tyner was likely killed.
“Numerous investigation avenues have been explored, and in order to protect the ongoing investigation police are unable to share those findings publicly at this time,” RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says.
“Based on those findings, major crimes investigators have reason to believe criminality was involved in Ben Tyner’s disappearance, and is the victim of a homicide.”
Tyner had moved from Wyoming to Merritt several months before going missing, and had taken over as manager of the Nicola Ranch.
His brother Jack, father Richard and mother Jennifer have renewed a call for information today, and are offering a private reward of $15,000 for information that leads to Tyner’s body being found, and the arrest and conviction of who is responsible.
“Ben’s disappearance has dramatically affected us,” his father Richard says. “The last two years have been filled with horrendous heartache, continued hope and many, many prayers. Ben is constantly in our daily lives – through tending his horses and cattle and having his dog, Sioux, trail beside us. The working pens on the Ranch are known as “Ben’s Pen’s” because he built them. His friends stay in touch with us through phone calls and visits. Two scholarships have been started in his name.
“To have to live with Ben’s loss is the most painful, excruciating experience ever. The loss we feel is immeasurable.”
Anyone with information related to the Tyner investigation is asked to call the Southeast District Major Crime Unit at 1-877-987-8477, or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
