The RCMP Major Crime Unit is now taking part in the search for missing Merritt cowboy Ben Tyner.

Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says there isn’t any evidence though to suggest foul play in Tyner’s disappearance.

“The Major Crime Unit has been called in just to ensure there haven’t been any missing links, and there’s nothing that we could do to advance the investigation that hasn’t already been done.”

The 32-year-old Tyner was last seen on January 26th and had was reported missing two days later, when his saddled horse was found northwest of Merritt.

The search for Tyner was called off on Sunday after crews looked for him for seven full days, but Shoihet says there’s a slim chance he’s still alive and says he’s still considered missing.

“We need to be realistic about the fact that he’s been out in the elements… and my understanding is it has been quite chilly, quite cold up there. If something did happen to him, if he got bucked off the horse or something and he’s been underneath the snow or something, the chances are slim,” she says.

“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 the tracks that we’ve already gone through and do our best to locate him.”

 

Shoihet adds that people in the Merritt area may see an increase in police activity with the Major Crime Unit investigating, and she urges anyone with information to contact Merritt RCMP and reference the file 2019-433.