The RCMP has confirmed that a father and son have been located deceased after they went missing while picking mushrooms in the Upper Mckenzie Basin.
On October 23, 2020, at about 6:45 am, Pemberton RCMP were requested to assist Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police in the search for the two men who had been reported missing the previous night.
The Pemberton RCMP joined the already extensive Lil'wat Nation and Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police efforts to locate the father and son — Peter Oleski and River Leo.
Yesterday at about 2 pm, a Lil'wat Nation volunteer search group located Peter and contacted Police and Pemberton SAR. Upon attending to the location of Peter, SAR teams also located River. Unfortunately, both were deceased.
"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Peter and River and with the Lil'wat Nation", says Sergeant Sascha Banks of the Sea to Sky RCMP.
"The determination of the Lil'wat community and the search and rescue teams was inspiring to all those who participated in the search. Although this is not the ending we had all hoped for I am thankful they were located, as this is not always the case with those that go missing in our backcountry."
The Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police alongside Pemberton RCMP will work with the BC Coroners Service on their coinciding investigations.
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