(UPDATE: Feb. 21 @ 11 a.m.) — Kamloops Rural RCMP continue to actively investigate the disappearance of 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka, who hasn't been seen since early on Feb. 17 in Sun Peaks.
Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said RCMP are asking all Sun Peaks residents to check their outbuildings, as it is possible Shtuka made his way into a shed or garage or unlocked vehicle.
“Officers are also actively following up on all tips received regarding Ryan disappearance,” Shelkie said in a media release.
“So far there have been no tips that substantiate Ryan left the village of Sun Peaks on Feb. 17.
“If anyone does believe they saw Ryan after 2:50 a.m. last Saturday, they are asked to contact Kamloops Rural RCMP at 250-314-1800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477."
Shtuka was last seen leaving a party at a residence on Burfield Drive. He has blonde hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing dark jeans, a grey/white shirt, a blue coat and a burgundy ball cap.
Story: Go Fund Me campaign launched to support family searching for Ryan Shtuka
(UPDATE : Feb. 19 @ 3:20 p.m.) — Kamloops RCMP are still searching for a 20-year-old man who was last seen leaving a party at Sun Peaks early Saturday morning.
Staff Sgt. Doug Aird said police dogs, the police helicopter and more than 30 community volunteers were involved in search efforts on Monday, but Ryan Shtuka has still not been located.
Kamloops Search and Rescue says there were 74 volunteers from the community assisting the search on Sunday.
Shtuka was last seen leaving a party on Burfield Drive at 2:10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17. RCMP say he was leaving to walk home to his residence located a short distance away.
Aird said search efforts have been concentrated in a one-to-two-kilometre radius in the vicinity of the two homes in Sun Peaks.
RCMP have been following all visible tracks, but Aird said the area received heavy snowfall over the weekend, which has made the search difficult.
Aird said more than 30 volunteers from the community strapped on snowshoes Monday morning, organizing a search party that carried on until around 2 p.m.
He said searchers, including two police dogs, have been working all the trails and bushes in the area in hopes of finding Shtuka. The police helicopter has also been in the air Monday, stopping to refuel at around 2:30 p.m.
Kamloops Search and Rescue had been assisting, but suspended their search on Monday. Search and Rescue said they had 22 members on the search on Sunday, which included search dogs, snowmobiles, drones and helicopters.
According to their Facebook page, 74 community volunteers came out to aid search efforts on Sunday.
"Yesterday was a long day for our members having been deployed from 5 a.m. to almost midnight," Kamloops Search and Rescue said on their Facebook page.
"KSAR is now suspended from searching however the RCMP is continuing to lead the investigation and any additional search efforts. KSAR will be available should new information become available and the RCMP requests us."
Shutka is 19 years old, caucasian, stands five-foot-10, weighs 155 pounds and has blonde hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing dark jeans, a grey/white shirt, a blue coat and a burgundy ball cap.
Anyone with information related to Shtuka’s whereabouts, and anyone who saw him in Sun Peaks overnight on Friday who has not already spoken to police, is asked to contact RCMP at 250-828-3000.
(ORIGINAL STORY Feb. 18 @ 7 a.m.) — On Feb. 17 Kamloops RCMP were called regarding a possible missing person.
The complaint outlined that 20-year-old Ryan Shtuka had not been seen or heard from since attending a party at a residence on Burfield Drive at Sun Peaks the night prior.
He was last seen on Feb. 17 at about 2:10 a.m. and was believed to have left the party on Burfield Drive to walk home to his residence located a short distance away in Sun Peaks.
Shtuka did not attend his job as scheduled later that day and has not been active on social media or cellular networks since the time he was last seen.
He was last seen wearing dark jeans, a grey/white shirt, a blue coat and a burgundy ball cap.
He is described as:
A search by the RCMP has been ongoing since the time of the call. Kamloops Search and Rescue have been engaged and will begin their efforts at daylight. If you have seen Ryan Shtuka in the past 24 hours and have not already spoken with police, please contact the Kamloops RCMP at (250) 828-3000.
Editor's note: The original description from RCMP indicated Shtuka is 19 years old. His family has since clarified that he is 20 years old.
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