CANADA Canada - Ben Tyner, 32, cowboy, horse returned w/o him, Merritt, British Columbia, 26 Jan 2019 - #3

[MistyWaters]

That route is the most logical and also explains why the trapper/tracker indicated to reporters that he felt the horse did not come from the direction of the ranch. Hwy 97C is east of the Swakum Mountain.

I don't feel that his disppearance comes from a complex premeditated issue and a couple things still lead me back to the ranch. Ben has always let someone know where he was going and an estimated return time and I believe he did this time as well.

It's been a long time since I've been up that way. Can you refresh my memory and advise if there are pull off/brake check areas that you encountered?

I admit my sense of direction is poor but isn’t 97c west of Merritt, not east? But if the logging road led due east from 97c, so then would the location where the riderless horse was found be to the north of Merritt, also according to the RCMP press release? (link above). It seems to me Swakum Mountain is directly north of the Merritt townsite, Hwy 97c on the west side of Swakum Mtn and Hwy 5 to the east of it?

“Tyner’s horse was located in an area just north of Merritt Monday morning around 0530...”

 

[rb63]

97c side where horse found is not a high traffic rd.. Pulling off side of rd maybe.. but maybe google map would show more details on possible's.

Thank you for sharing your local knowledge. Aside from roads I notice there’s various mountain bike trails on Swakum Mountain, north of Merritt where the riderless horse was found. If these trails were established by the mountain biking clubs or were existing longtime trails such as cattle, deer trails, I don’t know. I am somewhat familiar with the Merritt area as well and what’s referred to as mountains or backcountry I recall is not all density covered or thickly treed, not anything compared to say, the Rocky Mountains. A lot of the area is rolling, with benches of grassland. For that reason I can also imagine there being trails.

So for that reason, if I’m correct in my recollect, would it be possible for a cowboy to ride horseback “cross country”, not on roads? Because I’m also thinking a cowboy, whether riding for leisure or a purpose, given the option of trails would avoid roads as much as possible. JMO

In summer time, fall, spring sure.. Winter time with some snow maybe not. They normally bring cows in by Nov, so it is odd looking for strays in middle of winter. It had been mild up until that point but top would have had snow.. Roads would have been easiest route then. (my opinion)

 

[rb63]

I admit my sense of direction is poor but isn’t 97c west of Merritt, not east? But if the logging road led due east from 97c, so then would the location where the riderless horse was found be to the north of Merritt, also according to the RCMP press release? (link above). It seems to me Swakum Mountain is directly north of the Merritt townsite, Hwy 97c on the west side of Swakum Mtn and Hwy 5 to the east of it?

“Tyner’s horse was located in an area just north of Merritt Monday morning around 0530...”

97c runs west to east and is north of swakum.
swakum runs from merritt north, also east towards logans lake.

 

[Trudie]

97c runs west to east and is north of swakum.
swakum runs from merritt north, also east towards logans lake.

@rb63 so kind of you to share local info.
We need to remember, it was never reported Ben rode Gunny on Sunday. IMO, the only importance she plays is Ben’s murderer drove her to Swakum area.
Police know where Ben was Saturday evening. The likelihood Ben rode a horse out of NR, leaving no tracks is 0%.

 

[MistyWaters]

97c side where horse found is not a high traffic rd.. Pulling off side of rd maybe.. but maybe google map would show more details on possible's.


In summer time, fall, spring sure.. Winter time with some snow maybe not. They normally bring cows in by Nov, so it is odd looking for strays in middle of winter. It had been mild up until that point but top would have had snow.. Roads would have been easiest route then. (my opinion)

Yeah we don’t know if looking for strays had any connection. But this is where my imagination takes me - Ben, a Wyoming cowboy, relocates to Merritt area in November. Wouldn’t it be strange that he never ride away from the ranch site, especially on his days off prior to deep snow arriving? Especially if he spent his workdays in an office? This is why I question “no tracks”. Was he actually seen the day prior, on Saturday leaving the ranch? If so, did he also leave no tracks?

I’m not suggesting Ben was ambushed at the precise area where the riderless horse was found. But there’s a lot of variables - the attacker/s chased Gunny for a distance, hoping to catch her to therefore eliminate any sign of Ben’s disappearance but was unsuccessful in capturing her. Or the attacker caught her, transported her but upon unloading, she escaped. JMO

 

[MistyWaters]

@rb63 so kind of you to share local info.
We need to remember, it was never reported Ben rode Gunny on Sunday. IMO, the only importance she plays is Ben’s murderer drove her to Swakum area.
Police know where Ben was Saturday evening. The likelihood Ben rode a horse out of NR, leaving no tracks is 0%.

Yes, there are reports of Ben riding on Sunday in the same report that RCMP claimed to know the whereabouts of Ben Saturday night:

BBM
“Police believe 32-year-old Benjamin Tyner, the ranch manager of nearby Nicola Ranch, went out on horseback Sunday, but he has not been seen or heard from since then.”
Searchers narrow time frame of Merritt cowboy's disappearance

 

[rb63]

I admit my sense of direction is poor but isn’t 97c west of Merritt, not east? But if the logging road led due east from 97c, so then would the location where the riderless horse was found be to the north of Merritt, also according to the RCMP press release? (link above). It seems to me Swakum Mountain is directly north of the Merritt townsite, Hwy 97c on the west side of Swakum Mtn and Hwy 5 to the east of it?

“Tyner’s horse was located in an area just north of Merritt Monday morning around 0530...”

It might be helpful for you to use google earth and follow 97c to know exactly how it runs.. Go towards lower nicola and there is a fork in rd, right fork is 97c runs from there up towards Mamette Lake.

 

[MistyWaters]

It might be helpful for you to use google earth and follow 97c to know exactly how it runs.. Go towards lower nicola and there is a fork in rd, right fork is 97c runs from there up towards Mamette Lake.

Yes indeed I have looked at google. That’s why I wonder, as Logan Lake is to the north of Merritt and Hwy 97c leads to it, how can Hwy 97c run east to west?

 

[Trudie]

It might be helpful for you to use google earth and follow 97c to know exactly how it runs.. Go towards lower nicola and there is a fork in rd, right fork is 97c runs from there up towards Mamette Lake.

You are a pro with maps & directions!

Wanted to remind you of this:


Missing cowboy leaves no trace - Merritt Herald

 

[rb63]

Yes, there are reports of Ben riding on Sunday in the same report that RCMP claimed to know the whereabouts of Ben Saturday night:

BBM
“Police believe 32-year-old Benjamin Tyner, the ranch manager of nearby Nicola Ranch, went out on horseback Sunday, but he has not been seen or heard from since then.”
Searchers narrow time frame of Merritt cowboy's disappearance

"At this point, RCMP say they have determined Tyner would've likely left on Sunday, however it's still not known how he got into the backcountry."

I don't believe that due to snow at top of Swakum they figured he could go cross country to get where horse is found.... His truck and trailer at home.. So that means someone else took him to other side of mountain. If they are right (tend to believe LE), then why would no one come forwards and say.. It would be innocent, wouldn't?

 

[rb63]

Yes indeed I have looked at google. That’s why I wonder, as Logan Lake is to the north of Merritt and Hwy 97c leads to it, how can Hwy 97c run east to west?

I didn't think it ran straight up north and was slightly east, but I am not that good at directions either..

 

[Trudie]

"At this point, RCMP say they have determined Tyner would've likely left on Sunday, however it's still not known how he got into the backcountry."

I don't believe that due to snow at top of Swakum they figured he could go cross country to get where horse is found.... His truck and trailer at home.. So that means someone else took him to other side of mountain. If they are right (tend to believe LE), then why would no one come forwards and say.. It would be innocent, wouldn't?

Exactly.
Paraphrasing from above link, noted tracker KR believes it impossible to leave NR on horseback leaving NO prints.
As a horse owner, I agree. Horses poop, they poop a lot. There was nothing to indicate she left the ranch, in any direction. My guess is she was loaded from the barn.
They are looking for dash cam to identify trucks/trailers.

 

[MistyWaters]

"At this point, RCMP say they have determined Tyner would've likely left on Sunday, however it's still not known how he got into the backcountry."

I don't believe that due to snow at top of Swakum they figured he could go cross country to get where horse is found.... His truck and trailer at home.. So that means someone else took him to other side of mountain. If they are right (tend to believe LE), then why would no one come forwards and say.. It would be innocent, wouldn't?

I have to say I’ve not certain about what LE believe at this point in time because when they were inquiring about the truck and trailer they were leading a rescue operation, believing no foul play was involved.

They were also asking about this:
“However, if anyone has any information, or may have seen a male riding in the Swakum Ridge area north of Merritt on Saturday or Sunday, they are asked to contact the Merritt RCMP.”
Teams from across province continue search for missing Merritt, B.C., cowboy

As investigations are fluid and go wherever the evidence takes LE any theory discussed here could be possible, or the truth could be in another than nobody has thought of at all. That’s the value in discussing various possibilities here I think - there’s no right or wrong - because unfortunately the reason behind Ben’s disappearance is not yet known.

 

[MistyWaters]

I didn't think it ran straight up north and was slightly east, but I am not that good at directions either..

I get my google bearings only because the Pacific Ocean is definitely to the west of BC, Alberta to the east of BC but I’d not make for a good homing pigeon.

 

[rb63]

I have to say I’ve not certain about what LE believe at this point in time because when they were inquiring about the truck and trailer they were leading a rescue operation, believing no foul play was involved.

They were also asking about this:
“However, if anyone has any information, or may have seen a male riding in the Swakum Ridge area north of Merritt on Saturday or Sunday, they are asked to contact the Merritt RCMP.”
Teams from across province continue search for missing Merritt, B.C., cowboy

As investigations are fluid and go wherever the evidence takes LE any theory discussed here could be possible, or the truth could be in another than nobody has thought of at all. That’s the value in discussing various possibilities here I think - there’s no right or wrong - because unfortunately the reason behind Ben’s disappearance is not yet known.

Isn't that information outdated now and they are still looking for dash cam video. Must be reason they want. Unless you go directly to LE ask them what they know, when, where, etc we do not have the answers to all your questions. LE wont tell everything they know, nor should they. So, no your can not put everything off the table, all possibilities still out there.

 

[zecats]

Yes indeed I have looked at google. That’s why I wonder, as Logan Lake is to the north of Merritt and Hwy 97c leads to it, how can Hwy 97c run east to west?

It actually runs more north-south

Google Maps

And horse was reportedly found in area between 97C and 5. Swakum Ridge, not necessarily the mountain itself.

 

[Trudie]

So that means someone else took him to other side of mountain. If they are right (tend to believe LE), then why would no one come forwards and say.. It would be innocent, wouldn't?

Exactly. It would be innocent. Unless of course you killed Ben prior to staging his horse & had already lied to LE during initial questioning. Common sense + logic.

 

[MistyWaters]

Isn't that information outdated now and they are still looking for dash cam video. Must be reason they want. Unless you go directly to LE ask them what they know, when, where, etc we do not have the answers to all your questions. LE wont tell everything they know, nor should they. So, no your can not put everything off the table, all possibilities still out there.

You’re correct, LE will not tell the public anything they know.

Could the reason they were looking for dash cam video be they were looking for either a truck or trailer or horseback riders, including Ben, either or both Saturday or Sunday?

Because I admit, if they knew of Ben’s whereabouts on Saturday might, what were they looking for on Saturday? The only thing I can think of, if Ben did leave the ranch on horseback on Saturday, maybe LE predicted he might’ve rode out early Sunday via the same route again?

 

[zecats]

Exactly.
Paraphrasing from above link, noted tracker KR believes it impossible to leave NR on horseback leaving NO prints.
As a horse owner, I agree. Horses poop, they poop a lot. There was nothing to indicate she left the ranch, in any direction. My guess is she was loaded from the barn.
They are looking for dash cam to identify trucks/trailers.

And trailered up either 97C or 5 and then headed into the area between those two roads. Lots of logging roads in there. Zoom in on my map above and they show up...Coyote Valley Road, 8 Mile Road etc.

 

[Trudie]

Isn't that information outdated now and they are still looking for dash cam video. Must be reason they want. Unless you go directly to LE ask them what they know, when, where, etc we do not have the answers to all your questions. LE wont tell everything they know, nor should they. So, no your can not put everything off the table, all possibilities still out there.

Yes. Still looking for dash cam as late as date search in feed yard at NR.
Do you have any doubt as to what occurred here, based on what we’ve seen?
Makes me ill thinking of the latest search. Jmo

 

[rb63]

You’re correct, LE will not tell the public anything they know.

Could the reason they were looking for dash cam video be they were looking for either a truck or trailer or horseback riders, including Ben, either or both Saturday or Sunday?

Because I admit, if they knew of Ben’s whereabouts on Saturday might, what were they looking for on Saturday? The only thing I can think of, if Ben did leave the ranch on horseback on Saturday, maybe LE predicted he might’ve rode out early Sunday via the same route again?

That would be speculation without facts..