CANADA Canada - Ben Tyner, 32, cowboy, his horse returned w/o him, Merritt, British Columbia, 26 Jan 2019

[enelram]

I would hope by now LE has talked to this gf and also talked to
any of her Ex's.
Seems she might know any inside info about problems at the
ranch, if any. Gf's usually hear pillow talk.

 

[enelram]

So are you saying because no one else refers to her as a 'girlfriend'
or no one else knew he had a 'girlfriend' that this isn't the case?
I don't understand your comment.
Do you know if LE pursued info from her? From her ex's?

 

[zecats]

Would the Major Crime Unit be called in if this was simply a missing person's case? Major Crime to me implies they suspect foul play, but I am also not familiar with how things like this work in Canada. MOO

From the article about the Crime Unit being called

Sgt. Janelle Shoihet with the Lower Mainland District says it's not unusual for small RCMP detachments to lean on the crime unit for investigations.

"At this point, really, the major crime unit has been called in just to ensure that there haven’t been any missing links and there’s nothing we could do to advance that investigation that already hasn’t been done."

Shoihet adds there's no evidence to date to suspect foul play, and there hasn't been any new evidence in the last three days.

"We're looking at all options and we'll continue to investigate if there's something new."

Shoihet couldn't confirm if the missing-person case points to Tyner being deceased.

Southeast District Major Crime Unit assisting in case of missing Merritt cowboy - KamloopsMatters.com

 

[Deleted member 238131]

So are you saying because no one else refers to her as a 'girlfriend'
or no one else knew he had a 'girlfriend' that this isn't the case?
I don't understand your comment.
Do you know if LE pursued info from her? From her ex's?

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. The only place that there's any reference to him having a girlfriend is that post. If it was his gf then a/his fb page shows single and b/from what I understand they'd maybe been on a date or two. Also, all of the news articles and social media posts only ever refer to his family . . . there's never been any mention of a girlfriend.

I can only assume that LE would def be speaking with her.

This is why I've mentioned that I feel it could be domestic...maybe she has an X that didn't take kindly to her dating someone?

 

[Deleted member 238131]

It's disturbing to learn that in the fall of 2018 there were 2420 missing persons in BC alone.
A lot of the more recent ones (say last 5 years or so) are young, fit, healthy-looking men. And unlike women that are missing, these men are typically not marginalized in any way.
In the Merritt Kamloops area:
There's another man missing west of NR; town called Spences Bridge. Luke Neville.
Man missing from Stump Lake, a fairly large ranch just about 20 minutes up the same highway as NR. Dean Morrison.
Two different men who had been missing discovered murdered in the rangelands of Kamloops, BC...about an hour from NR. Troy Gold; Robert Gair.

It brings to mind the Pickton murders, and on trial right now, the creepy gardener murdering all those men in Toronto.

 

[enelram]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. The only place that there's any reference to him having a girlfriend is that post. If it was his gf then a/his fb page shows single and b/from what I understand they'd maybe been on a date or two. Also, all of the news articles and social media posts only ever refer to his family . . . there's never been any mention of a girlfriend.

I can only assume that LE would def been speaking with her.

This is why I've mentioned that I feel it could be domestic...maybe she has an X that didn't take kindly to her dating someone?

I wouldn't put too much stock in his fb stating 'single'. My
niece has been living w/ a guy for 10 yrs., have an 8 yr. old
child together and own real estate together and his fb states
'single'. Guess to him, if he's not married he's single. IDK.

So maybe this gf is fairly new to him if she's local. I wonder if she
was the last person to see or have contact with him.

 

[enelram]

It's disturbing to learn that in the fall of 2018 there were 2420 missing persons in BC alone.
A lot of the more recent ones (say last 5 years or so) are young, fit, healthy-looking men. And unlike women that are missing, these men are typically not marginalized in any way.
In the Merritt Kamloops area:
There's another man missing west of NR; town called Spences Bridge. Luke Neville.
Man missing from Stump Lake, a fairly large ranch just about 20 minutes up the same highway as NR. Dean Morrison.
Two different men who had been missing discovered murdered in the rangelands of Kamloops, BC...about an hour from NR. Troy Gold; Robert Gair.



It brings to mind the Pickton murders, and on trial right now, the creepy gardener murdering all those men in Toronto.

Wonder if there could be a kook out there who was hunting or
poaching on someone else's property and victim came upon him,
kook shoots and kills victim so as not to be reported and arrested.
Seems like it could be the kind of crime that may never be solved.
This has been one of my top suspicions.

 

[zecats]

They are still not disclosing where or who it was that last saw him or whether it was at his home, over the phone or out in public. It's just that they place him at something like 2pm that Saturday....

Actually another statement reported it was Saturday night. Still not where or if with anyone, though.

Searchers narrow time frame of Merritt cowboy's disappearance

BBM

"We know of his whereabouts on Saturday night, so that gives us an extra day," Dunsmore explains. "We are still looking at how he may have gone up here because we're thinking maybe he was driven up. So we don't know who would have driven him up, or if there's anybody out there that maybe brought him up with a truck and trailer, and we're looking for that person if that did happen."

 

[zecats]

It's disturbing to learn that in the fall of 2018 there were 2420 missing persons in BC alone.
A lot of the more recent ones (say last 5 years or so) are young, fit, healthy-looking men. And unlike women that are missing, these men are typically not marginalized in any way.
In the Merritt Kamloops area:
There's another man missing west of NR; town called Spences Bridge. Luke Neville.
Man missing from Stump Lake, a fairly large ranch just about 20 minutes up the same highway as NR. Dean Morrison.
Two different men who had been missing discovered murdered in the rangelands of Kamloops, BC...about an hour from NR. Troy Gold; Robert Gair.

It brings to mind the Pickton murders, and on trial right now, the creepy gardener murdering all those men in Toronto.

BBM

I checked WS for info on these two men. There is thread for Luke at least.

CANADA - Canada - Luke Neville, 48, van located burned out, Spences Bridge, British Columbia, 9 Oct 2017

 

[enelram]

Seems there's been some "poaching" of Big Horn Sheep in the
Spence's Bridge area- 2 men seen shooting rifles and a dead
sheep left behind. Never caught even though a motorist took
pics of men.
Also Elk Poaching is fairly common out west- poached for their
huge horns.
Also while perusing local fb personal pages, it seems common
for hunters and fishermen to be out getting deer and fish this time
of year- for personal consumption.
I just wonder if BT came upon someone hunting or poaching on NR property, and rather than be apprehended the poacher
shot and killed him, buried the body far off the trail where searchers
didn't go. If this is the case, he may never be found.

 

[zecats]

Seems there's been some "poaching" of Big Horn Sheep in the
Spence's Bridge area- 2 men seen shooting rifles and a dead
sheep left behind. Never caught even though a motorist took
pics of men.
Also Elk Poaching is fairly common out west- poached for their
huge horns.
Also while perusing local fb personal pages, it seems common
for hunters and fishermen to be out getting deer and fish this time
of year- for personal consumption.
I just wonder if BT came upon someone hunting or poaching on NR property, and rather than be apprehended the poacher
shot and killed him, buried the body far off the trail where searchers didn't go. If this is the case, he may never be found.

RBBM
Maybe an accidental gunshot, mistaken for deer perhaps? I find it hard to believe that an individual would commit murder for this reason. What's the penalty for murder vs for poaching? Big jump, IMO

Though anything is always possible.

 

[Trudie]

Why do you class him as an outsider, because he's an American? Most people would read him as "guy that applied for the position" ... really, it's so unlikely that it's because of disgruntled employees that were laid off.

The former manager has moved on to a large outfit in Alberta, W.A. Ranches of University of Calgary.

So many people seem to be concerned that there are employees or former employees being so bothered that they would resort to foul play because of being bitter but I really, hightly can not see this being the situation at all.

If anything, it would be more likely a domestic dispute . . . we haven't heard anything of his personal/romantic life. Maybe he went on a date with the wrong girl? Did an old flame chase him across the border and that got in to a disagreement? Crime of passion?

It's just that so often it's usually someone the victim knows more than a stranger committing some crime against them, isn't it? There must be statistics about that?

Outsider to the ranch & the established crew.
I haven’t heard about his social life, have you?

 

[Trudie]

Sorry, I cannot find the article but I have confirmed that the rein was BT's, I have it from two reliable sources, both actively involved with the search that a piece of his broken rein was found "Based on location of horse and broken rein was coming from south"....
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sadly, I too feel like it's likely a recovery situation now.

It's been --24C for days and no-one has found any evidence of fire or otherwise. I hear there have been people out looking at night time; the first days they also used heat seeking devices, along with many dogs and drones and no signs even with 150 people on the ground.

Maybe he's left to start a new life? ( I just read a story about a man from Surrey, BC -- Walter Simek that went missing for well over a year: on purpose).

Maybe not enough eyes looking up ... all so focussed on finding tracks on the ground and maybe he's up a tree? Could have stood on his horse and hopped up, wouldn't even need to leave a footprint if he shinnied up a tree.

If it's foul-play I think it would be something personal-domestic ... there hasn't been talk of this sort but I imagine a decent, fit looking, 32 year old cowboy with a decent career must turn a few eyes? And so, what if he was doing some dating (and wouldn't a guy at that age be looking for a partner?) and he met the wrong girl? Or a nice girl with a jealous X? Or a jilted lover from his past?

My last more happy, hopeful thought is that he bumped his head, stumbled to the highway (not sure which one!) and hitched a ride and he's going to be spotted in Vancouver or Calgary at a soup kitchen or some backwater ranch.

I have been sick about the whole thing; suppose because it's literally close to home ... I used to go out riding on my own frequently; wouldn't always say where I was going and a few times got myself into situations where I knew that it could have been much worse. Even out hiking, same thing...didn't always use to look up, carry bear-bangers and have my knife handy. Close to home also due to the fact that I have many friends and family members that have or do cowboy and there are so many former ranch employees and other locals out there looking ... because it could be anyone and it's easy to place ourselves' in these sickening situations. His family and friends ... I cannot even imagine their pain.

Did Ben have a knife on him and in his saddlebags? I guess he didn't have a gun because there's been no suggestions that he may have a self-inflicted wound, either.

There's a large lake right there barely a minute from the ranch, Nicola Lake .... foul play could put him there, tack up his horse and trailer it away from BT?

But one always has hope that there may be a happy ending. After all, miracles do happen.

The fact that it’s been reported he may have been “trailered in” concerns me. Did someone tell LE they saw truck/trailer passing thru a gate & it is assumed Ben was being “trailered in”?
The office manager stated Ben never left the ranch w/o telling someone. That’s protocol where I live, even if the mgr is off, he lets a hand know he’s leaving. Not just for a ride, leaving for any reason.
IF he saddled his horse, the ranch is his last known location. If not, Saturday afternoon/evening (various reports) is the last sighting.
IF ranch resident homes are clustered together, did anyone see or talk to him when he tacked up?

 

[?mysterian?]

Maybe one or some of the employees felt that they should've been promoted to the job BT was hired for, IDK.

Any info, or additional resources investigating is a good thing, IMO.

Seeing a map/layout of the ranch could help. If folks lived near each other and near where his horse was stabled/kept, it may be more likely that someone heard/saw something. If a truck and horse trailer was involved, perhaps someone heard/saw the vehicle and possibly even the horse being loaded. Sometime loaded horse trailers can be pretty noisy because some horses stomp around. I'd hope LE has already considered these things.

 

[Trudie]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. The only place that there's any reference to him having a girlfriend is that post. If it was his gf then a/his fb page shows single and b/from what I understand they'd maybe been on a date or two. Also, all of the news articles and social media posts only ever refer to his family . . . there's never been any mention of a girlfriend.

I can only assume that LE would def be speaking with her.

This is why I've mentioned that I feel it could be domestic...maybe she has an X that didn't take kindly to her dating someone?

Well, this sheds new light.
The possibilities are endless.
Evidentl LE knows where he was Saturday & spoke with someone that verified his whereabouts. Maybe they offered insight about his intentions for Sunday?

 

[Trudie]

Maybe one or some of the employees felt that they should've been promoted to the job BT was hired for, IDK.

Any info, or additional resources investigating is a good thing, IMO.

Seeing a map/layout of the ranch could help. If folks lived near each other and near where his horse was stabled/kept, it may be more likely that someone heard/saw something. If a truck and horse trailer was involved, perhaps someone heard/saw the vehicle and possibly even the horse being loaded. Sometime loaded horse trailers can be pretty noisy because some horses stomp around. I'd hope LE has already considered these things.

Right! Hopefully vehicles are being tested.
Surely NR has security cameras. I can’t imagine them not.

 

[Trudie]

From the article about the Crime Unit being called

Sgt. Janelle Shoihet with the Lower Mainland District says it's not unusual for small RCMP detachments to lean on the crime unit for investigations.

"At this point, really, the major crime unit has been called in just to ensure that there haven’t been any missing links and there’s nothing we could do to advance that investigation that already hasn’t been done."

Shoihet adds there's no evidence to date to suspect foul play, and there hasn't been any new evidence in the last three days.

"We're looking at all options and we'll continue to investigate if there's something new."

Shoihet couldn't confirm if the missing-person case points to Tyner being deceased.

Southeast District Major Crime Unit assisting in case of missing Merritt cowboy - KamloopsMatters.com

Sounds like she’s “glossing over” why the crime unit is involved. Jmo

 

[cutter99]

I think there are people who do not realize some facts, yes facts, about this situation with Ben.

1) This is no small area with nice flat clear terrain to search. It is terrain that is difficult to search in the best of circumstances. -24C and snow cover is not the best of circumstances in any way! Not only can this terrain contribute to the circumstances of a missing person, it can make searching for them downright deadly, especially when coupled with below freezing temperatures.

2) Canadians typically do not bear a lot of animosity towards Americans. Americans are usually seen as allies, plus Canadians are some of the nicest people you will meet.

3) Ben is no stranger to the agriculture world, which is a small world no matter what country you are in. Many people know each other or know of each other. I would be fairly sure that Ben did not take this job blindly, and that he had a pretty good idea of who and where he was going to work.

4) Not everything is a conspiracy. Accidents and terrible things happen to people every single day.

5) LE is not required or obligated to put out any information about an ongoing investigation. And even when they do release information, you are only getting a small amount of what they have.

6) A fall from a horse can potentially be life ending in itself. A fall from a horse in temperatures below freezing in complicated terrain is even worse.

7) Occam’s Razor

This thread has frustrated me because there is a lot of information on it that is being put out in public that is anything but factual. We all know what is said about assumptions.

Nicola Ranch does not have a bad reputation anywhere. There have been no accusations of cooked books, vengeful former employees, or other issues in any sort of public domain. We have a local here who has had nothing negative to say about the ranch or the area. There may not be much information about Nicola Ranch because it is privately owned, just like my farm is.

Sometimes things just happen. People get hurt, or worse, in day to day life every day.

 

[Trudie]

Why do you class him as an outsider, because he's an American? Most people would read him as "guy that applied for the position" ... really, it's so unlikely that it's because of disgruntled employees that were laid off.

The former manager has moved on to a large outfit in Alberta, W.A. Ranches of University of Calgary.

So many people seem to be concerned that there are employees or former employees being so bothered that they would resort to foul play because of being bitter but I really, hightly can not see this being the situation at all.

If anything, it would be more likely a domestic dispute . . . we haven't heard anything of his personal/romantic life. Maybe he went on a date with the wrong girl? Did an old flame chase him across the border and that got in to a disagreement? Crime of passion?

It's just that so often it's usually someone the victim knows more than a stranger committing some crime against them, isn't it? There must be statistics about that?

Work place violence is very common in the US. It’s not unusual for a disgruntled employee to seek revenge.
In this situation, with Ben recently moving (Nov 18/18, he was still in WY according to FB), & acclimatizing to his new surroundings, I THINK his circle of friends would be small & perhaps confined to NR staff. Jmo
My curiosity is heightened since non of his “hands” have spoken, publicly. I don’t like “friends” coming forward because they really offer nothing, as they are “friends”. They all have basically the same things to say. But, a co-worker can offer a different perspective, imo.

 

[Trudie]

I think there are people who do not realize some facts, yes facts, about this situation with Ben.

1) This is no small area with nice flat clear terrain to search. It is terrain that is difficult to search in the best of circumstances. -24C and snow cover is not the best of circumstances in any way! Not only can this terrain contribute to the circumstances of a missing person, it can make searching for them downright deadly, especially when coupled with below freezing temperatures.

2) Canadians typically do not bear a lot of animosity towards Americans. Americans are usually seen as allies, plus Canadians are some of the nicest people you will meet.

3) Ben is no stranger to the agriculture world, which is a small world no matter what country you are in. Many people know each other or know of each other. I would be fairly sure that Ben did not take this job blindly, and that he had a pretty good idea of who and where he was going to work.

4) Not everything is a conspiracy. Accidents and terrible things happen to people every single day.

5) LE is not required or obligated to put out any information about an ongoing investigation. And even when they do release information, you are only getting a small amount of what they have.

6) A fall from a horse can potentially be life ending in itself. A fall from a horse in temperatures below freezing in complicated terrain is even worse.

7) Occam’s Razor

This thread has frustrated me because there is a lot of information on it that is being put out in public that is anything but factual. We all know what is said about assumptions.

Nicola Ranch does not have a bad reputation anywhere. There have been no accusations of cooked books, vengeful former employees, or other issues in any sort of public domain. We have a local here who has had nothing negative to say about the ranch or the area. There may not be much information about Nicola Ranch because it is privately owned, just like my farm is.

Sometimes things just happen. People get hurt, or worse, in day to day life every day.

I don’t think anyone believes Canadians harbor animosity towards Americans. And, were all pretty much aware of Ben’s phenomenal background in the cattle industry, the rugged terrain/weather conditions, LEs right to withhold info & the dangers associated with horses.