CANADA Canada - Ben Tyner, 32, cowboy, horse returned w/o him, Merritt, British Columbia, 26 Jan 2019 - #2

[Trudie]

That link has always been down when I try the actual website. Facebook page of NR is where I see photos of rentals. Though posts are from some years ago.

Maybe they use the homes for staff now?

 

[Trudie]

Absolutely, calling in the Major Crimes Unit is not routine for a missing person case: their mandate refers only to "missing persons (where foul play is suspected)". Crime Investigations - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (bottom of page)

I don't believe they would waste their time going down to Merritt to investigate just to 'cover all the bases' as was quoted in the press. That was just local police trying to keep the lid on rumour.

For example, the RCMP haven't called in the MCU for the disappearance of Ryan Shtuka, although they are apparently 'reviewing the file'.

IMO, there must have been some aspect of the case that merited (pun!) the specialized skills and resources of the MCU, such as suspicious tire tracks or a suspected crime scene that needed to be processed to the highest standards.

I agree. Plus, we don’t know when MCU actually got involved. We know what RCMO told media, but........
I think after interviews were conducted, they compared notes & the same name/s appeared over & over as potentially having an issue with Ben. A motive to “target” him. Moo

 

[Satchie]

I agree. Plus, we don’t know when MCU actually got involved. We know what RCMO told media, but........
I think after interviews were conducted, they compared notes & the same name/s appeared over & over as potentially having an issue with Ben. A motive to “target” him. Moo

Not sure, one potential issue is that, as a newcomer/boss, he might not have been pals with anyone that he would chat with about that kind of thing. Including his new boss. And as a cowboy, he'd be more likely to be the strong, silent type.

As well, the people around him wouldn't have been the types, IMO, to be noticing a lot of subtle relationship dynamics, these are 'just get 'er done' guys. Maybe people who don't gossip, don't ever talk about things that they regard as none of their business. Plus, maybe an attitude of 'why should I get involved and say something that might get a guy into trouble.'

 

[MistyWaters]

Absolutely, calling in the Major Crimes Unit is not routine for a missing person case: their mandate refers only to "missing persons (where foul play is suspected)". Crime Investigations - Royal Canadian Mounted Police (bottom of page)

I don't believe they would waste their time going down to Merritt to investigate just to 'cover all the bases' as was quoted in the press. That was just local police trying to keep the lid on rumour.

For example, the RCMP haven't called in the MCU for the disappearance of Ryan Shtuka, although they are apparently 'reviewing the file'.

IMO, there must have been some aspect of the case that merited (pun!) the specialized skills and resources of the MCU, such as suspicious tire tracks or a suspected crime scene that needed to be processed to the highest standards.

I totally agree. The RCMP, even in smaller towns, are supported by their national organizational and not for a moment did I ever believe MCU became involved just for the sake of offering expert oversight to an inexperienced police department in over their heads with a missing persons case.

When the RCMP asked that volunteers not search was the second clue. Aside from the reality that random searchers would be illegally trespassing on private property including dangerous active logging sites and the Indian Band’s reservation, another reason would be LE doesn’t want forensic evidence compromised.

 

[Trudie]

I totally agree. The RCMP, even in smaller towns, are supported by their national organizational and not for a moment did I ever believe MCU became involved just for the sake of offering expert oversight to an inexperienced police department in over their heads with a missing persons case.

When the RCMP asked that volunteers not search was the second clue. Aside from the reality that random searchers would be illegally trespassing on private property including dangerous active logging sites and the Indian Band’s reservation, another reason would be LE doesn’t want forensic evidence compromised.

And possibly, they knew there was no reason to search.
Moo

 

[MistyWaters]

I agree. Plus, we don’t know when MCU actually got involved. We know what RCMO told media, but........
I think after interviews were conducted, they compared notes & the same name/s appeared over & over as potentially having an issue with Ben. A motive to “target” him. Moo

I’ve observed there’s often a unique dynamic at play in areas such as Merritt where people keep their thoughts to themselves mainly because they don’t want to cause trouble by making unfounded accusations against one another. They might work together, they might go to church together, their children might play sports together, sometimes they even marry each other. It’s not so much protection but a way of long term peaceful survival within a community. Everybody knows everybody - Ben wasn’t one of them. That’s a reason the RCMP may have difficulty getting information.

 

[MistyWaters]

And possibly, they knew there was no reason to search.
Moo

As Ben’s body still hasn’t been found, I suppose searching areas where his horse was found was as good a place to begin as any. But I agree, I don’t think they expected to find an injured cowboy who’d fallen off his horse.

 

[Trudie]

I totally agree. The RCMP, even in smaller towns, are supported by their national organizational and not for a moment did I ever believe MCU became involved just for the sake of offering expert oversight to an inexperienced police department in over their heads with a missing persons case.

When the RCMP asked that volunteers not search was the second clue. Aside from the reality that random searchers would be illegally trespassing on private property including dangerous active logging sites and the Indian Band’s reservation, another reason would be LE doesn’t want forensic evidence compromised.

For us, calling in State Police to assist a small town sheriff or police department would be the equivalent of MCU backing RCMP, imo.
Again, for me, it all goes back to the onset & interviews conducted. As search teams were organized LE had to be asking ranch staff a series of questions, searching Ben’s house, vehicle, phoning his family, etc.
I set off on a new sleuthing excursion today but changed my mind, lol.
I still believe it’s going to end right where it started, at Ben’s house.
What an incredibly sad story this is. A man, his dog, his horse—now separated, never to finish their Canadian adventure.
So glad Ben got to live his dream, be a cowboy, grow up in the west & all things he pined.
Hopefully, someone will face a lengthy prison term, down the road.
Moo

 

[Trudie]

I’ve observed there’s often a unique dynamic at play in areas such as Merritt where people keep their thoughts to themselves mainly because they don’t want to cause trouble by making unfounded accusations against one another. They might work together, they might go to church together, their children might play sports together, sometimes they even marry each other. It’s not so much protection but a way of long term peaceful survival within a community. Everybody knows everybody - Ben wasn’t one of them. That’s a reason the RCMP may have difficulty getting information.

True anywhere, imo. People are reluctant to get involved or often might suspect someone but think ‘no, he could never’. As time passses, more talk goes on, I think. People are more apt to call tips in after hearing gossip, imo. Even a person that knew nothing might now know things from convo with friends, coworkers, etc. no tip is too small, imo.
Ben moved around a lot & traveled often, according to FB. He had no problems acclimatizing in new surroundings & making friends, imo.
Hopefully, he shared any problems he was experiencing.
I firmly believe he did & his case will be solved as a result of him doing so!
Moo

 

[Trudie]

Thank you Satchie.

The Winnie Flats fire in 2005 (bottom of article) was said to be 2 km north of Merritt. Don't know if that 2 km related to the southern fireline or northern. It was said to have been caused by an accident on the Coquihalla but I'm not sure why the article says that ... the Coquihalla veers to the south on the east side of Merritt.

I don't know why anyone would have said Ben didn't go over Swakum Mtn ... there are all sorts of off-roading trails, snowmobile and biking trails referred to on tourism maps.

On another note, I wonder if Ben knew there was a Tyner Lake north of Merritt. (Looks like east of 97C but the numbers on the map are a bit blurry.)

I have wondered if Ben might have distant relatives in Ca. Googling the name provided me with a lot of hits.
IMO, the time element is why people refuse to believe he rode over the mountain.

 

[siliconrod]

Hopefully, he shared any problems he was experiencing.
I firmly believe he did & his case will be solved as a result of him doing so!

Did Ben share his concerns with local authorities. It seems that MCU got involved in the search for Ben early on which I thought was for technical assistance but they might have had other reasons.

 

[Trudie]

Did Ben share his concerns with local authorities. It seems that MCU got involved in the search for Ben early on which I thought was for technical assistance but they might have had other reasons.

We don’t know.
I do feel Ben thrust himself into his new community, meeting people, studying the history (seemed quite well. versed discussing the church fire), meeting fellow ranch managers, neighbors, etc. he was accustomed to being the new cowboy in town or in a country.

 

[superbee]

Ok. I’ll meet you there for coffee. Or geocaching.

You just pinged a memory. Yesterday I was poking around, googling Swakum Mountain, and I remember reading somewhere that there is geocaching in that area. I thought to myself, that is a good thing, there will be more folks going out and about looking here and there, besides the cowboys looking for cattle, hunters, mountain bikers, loggers, hikers, back road explorers, atv'ers, etc.

In Canada, you don't have to own huge amounts of land to run cattle, the prov. and federal gov'ts own a lot of the land--not private owners, and in many places you can lease gov't land with grazing rights to run your cattle.

Some have to truck or herd their cattle to the grazing rights land. Maybe that's why there is some talk of looking for stray cattle, there may be NR grazing rights up the side(s) of Swakum Mtn?

January is rather late in the season to be looking for cattle, even with little snow, most herds have some old lady cows who know the drill. The old gals know the way home in the Fall when the leaves change, right to the ranch barns, where the gate is open and the hay and drinking water is waiting.

 

[Trudie]

You just pinged a memory. Yesterday I was poking around, googling Swakum Mountain, and I remember reading somewhere that there is geocaching in that area. I thought to myself, that is a good thing, there will be more folks going out and about looking here and there, besides the cowboys looking for cattle, hunters, mountain bikers, loggers, hikers, back road explorers, atv'ers, etc.

In Canada, you don't have to own huge amounts of land to run cattle, the prov. and federal gov'ts own a lot of the land--not private owners, and in many places you can lease gov't land with grazing rights to run your cattle.

Some have to truck or herd their cattle to the grazing rights land. Maybe that's why there is some talk of looking for stray cattle, there may be NR grazing rights up the side(s) of Swakum Mtn?

January is rather late in the season to be looking for cattle, even with little snow, most herds have some old lady cows who know the drill. The old gals know the way home in the Fall when the leaves change, right to the ranch barns, where the gate is open and the hay and drinking water is waiting.

Lol, yes! The old gals ain’t gonna miss a meal.
The Crown Land must be evacuated before winter, according to what I’ve read.
2pm is also late for a cowboy to saddle his mount for a round up, imo.

 

[musicaljoke]

You just pinged a memory. Yesterday I was poking around, googling Swakum Mountain, and I remember reading somewhere that there is geocaching in that area. I thought to myself, that is a good thing, there will be more folks going out and about looking here and there, besides the cowboys looking for cattle, hunters, mountain bikers, loggers, hikers, back road explorers, atv'ers, etc.

In Canada, you don't have to own huge amounts of land to run cattle, the prov. and federal gov'ts own a lot of the land--not private owners, and in many places you can lease gov't land with grazing rights to run your cattle.

Some have to truck or herd their cattle to the grazing rights land. Maybe that's why there is some talk of looking for stray cattle, there may be NR grazing rights up the side(s) of Swakum Mtn?

January is rather late in the season to be looking for cattle, even with little snow, most herds have some old lady cows who know the drill. The old gals know the way home in the Fall when the leaves change, right to the ranch barns, where the gate is open and the hay and drinking water is waiting.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this account of local farming practices. Can more than one farmer get grazing rights to the same parcel of land at the same time? I'm wondering if there are several people who are very familiar with the gov't lands, or if user numbers are limited to just a few people.

 

[Trudie]

Speculating only

Moo is Ben never “rode out” & the person/s stating they saw him is/are key suspect/s.
All of us that work cattle from our horses know we don’t begin @2pm in the winter.
Jmo

 

[Trudie]

http://www.merrittherald.com/trans-mountain-touts-benefits-to-locals-at-meeting-in-merritt/

Merritt is going to change dramatically.
One day, the ranches will be nothing but a memory.

 

[Satchie]

Deleted

 

[DianeElaine]

This is my first post on this thread. Not a cowboy or have any expertise or even familiarity with life on a cattle ranch so please forgive what might be a pretty stupid question. I believe I recall Gunny was found at 5:30 a.m., riderless. It must have been totally dark at that hour. How do cowboys see much of anything in the dark hours before the sun rises (or sets)? After so many weeks, I guess it’s very unlikely Ben will be found alive and that is tragic.

 

[Portabella]

Speaking from experience when you move into a small town (actually really small) you feel like an alien for quite some time. The fact he had made friends in the time he was there (short time) is actually amazing. Without revealing where I live, I can say I lived in Denver until 1993 aka "the summer of violence". Its odd, but when people sit and watch tv shows and see parents or single mom's that are living in rough/dangerous area's, they yell at the tv....move, get out of that area. But most really don't, as its very hard to cut roots and move to the middle of nowhere. I DID. I can say I was stared at, people waved, but you could see the stares and NO ONE ever befriended me for over a year, I was very much alone. Small town folk (ranchers) are not trusting, and they all thought...(lol) that I was running from something or hiding out. In reality I was getting my kids the heck out of Denver. Just saying, many may have a BIG OLE hunch on what happened to Ben, but to get them to break that silence will take guts or a few drinks at a bar and a slip of the tongue. Its so hard to explain what I am talking about, but people are people are people and I am sure its much the same in Canada ranch country as it is here in Colorado. Yes they knew why he was there, but that does not mean they welcomed him with open arms at all. I just hope someone has the fortitude to come forward and even anonymously give a tip. Or....slip at the pub and tell someone who will come forward. I have now been out this way for 26 years, so I now totally belong here, but it took time and lots of it. I just hope someone will come forward for Ben. There is so much more to this story, I can feel it in my bones and honestly I cannot get this case off my mind, that is why I keep coming back. Something has to give. I am just glad his horse and dogs are safe in Wyoming with his family. Now just to find Ben and give his family some closure. This one truly hurts my heart, you often hear how great a man was after they are gone, but in this case I do believe he was a great man who lead a dream life, and he had so much more time to continue that dream. Someone took that away from him, and there is NO excuse none for that. I hope justice is swift once they get this puzzle figured out and they pay greatly for killing this cowboy and his beautiful dream. My heart hurts for his family so badly. I know I am not sleuthing great like many of you, but trust me I am reading and listening to all your hard work, and want to thank you for being such great sleuthers. IMHO P.S. Sweet Anna if your reading, I dont' blame you a bit for closing your account, be safe and have a great life.