(Update – Feb. 7 @ 10:30 a.m.): After a week-long expansive and exhaustive search, RCMP in Merritt have requested the assistance of the Southeast District Major Crime Unit (SED MCU) in the investigation of missing person, Benjamin Tyner.
Tyner was reported missing to the Merritt RCMP on Jan. 28, when his rider-less horse was discovered on a logging road off Highway 97 near Winnie Flats. Following his disappearance, RCMP, Search and Rescue, Air Services, Police Dog Services, and volunteers combed the area on foot, in vehicles, on snowmobiles, horseback, helicopters and utility vehicles. Sadly, Tyner was not located.
"While the official search was suspended on Sunday after seven days of searching, the investigation is not over," states S/Sgt. Lorne Wood, Merritt RCMP Detachment Commander. "We are thankful to have the expertise and resources available from the SED MCU, to assist us as the investigation transitions from a short term search effort."
Residents may see an increase in police presence throughout Merritt and surrounding area, in support of the ongoing investigation.
Sgt. Janelle Shoihet says that they remain hopeful that they will find Tyner alive, however they must also be "realistic."
"We remain hopeful that Mr. Tyner will be found alive and will continue to be, until we have evidence to suggest he isn't or he is located," said Shoihet. "We must also be realistic in recognizing that if he has been out in the elements for the last 10 days, each passing days lessens his chances of survival."
"That being said, the investigation into his disappearance remains active and ongoing and we are hopeful the SED MCU will be able to identify some investigational avenues that have not already been explored."
Anyone who has information about Mr. Tyner’s disappearance is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 and cite file 2019-433.
(Update – Feb. 3 @ 6:30 p.m.): Merritt RCMP have called a hiatus in their search for the missing rancher, Ben Tyner, who was last seen Saturday afternoon at Nicola Ranch where he had worked since November 2018.
The search for Ben Tyner, which has been conducted with more than 19 teams from across BC, dog tracking teams, air support, drones, horseback riders and community volunteers, was suspended on Sunday.
RCMP state the suspension is a result of "extensive coverage in the area where the horse was found on January 28 as well as extreme cold and poor weather conditions."
Crews were out today in the hills above #MerrittBC as temps hit -24C without windchill. We are sorry to report Day 7 offered no new leads pic.twitter.com/QJ0VSkPVLD
— COSAR (@okrescue) February 4, 2019
Despite extreme cold and snow, teams of search parties were out Sunday continuing their search but with no results.
While the search is suspended, police will continue to investigate in hope that additional information will surface and aid their investigation, and the search reinstated.
(Original Story – Feb. 1 @ 10:40 a.m.): The RCMP and search and rescue teams from across the province are still looking for 32-year-old Ben Tyner, a cowboy from the Merritt area.
The Merritt RCMP said that they are on their fifth day of the search and have found no new evidence about his disappearance.
Search Dogs, tracking teams, helicopters, UTVs and snowmobiles as well as teams from across the Central Interior, the lower Mainland and Vancouver Island have attended to assist in the search over the past five days. With weather continuing to be cooperative and large numbers of volunteers the plan is to continue searching into the weekend to cover as much terrain as possible.
Tyner’s horse was found north of Merritt on Monday at around 5:30 a.m. and was reported to RCMP later that day. He was hired as a ranch manager at Nicola ranch in November 2018. He is new to the area, but has been ranching and riding horses for many years and is believed to be in good shape and is quite competent in the bush.
Some of the thick bush near #Merritt that searchers are going through looking for missing cowboy #BenTyner. There are three searchers in this picture #SAR @BCSARAssoc pic.twitter.com/CalNcrPDYH
— COSAR (@okrescue) January 31, 2019
He is described as 6 ft. 3 in with dark hair, a beard and normally wears a black and red woolen hat with ear flaps.
Local assistance has also been provided by Local First Nations bands, the ranching community and volunteers. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP.
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