Whistler and Pemberton RCMP have called off the search for a missing Calgary man whose burnt-out pickup truck was found outside of Pemberton last month.
Marshal Iwaasa, 26, was last seen by family in Lethbridge, Alta. on Sunday, Nov. 17. Iwaasa told family he was returning to Calgary, however, he has not been seen or heard from since. He was reported missing on Monday, Nov. 25, the day after his charred pickup truck was found alongside some personal identification, clothes, three smashed cellphones and a destroyed laptop near the Brian Waddington backcountry hut.
"It felt like a crime scene and had a very eerie feeling," wrote James Starke, who discovered the truck with some friends, on the South Coast Touring Facebook group.
“We have no idea where he could be,” said Whistler RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton. “Basically, we’ve exhausted the search efforts in the area we know he was in, and there’s nothing else to suggest other locations to look at.”
Knapton did say police believe Iwaasa was likely the driver of the truck and that he may have left on foot. “We found some clothing indicating the direction of travel,” he added.
Knapton also said there is “nothing to suggest that there has been any foul play. Having said that, everything is always an option until it’s disproven.”
Speaking to CTV News Calgary this week, Iwaasa's sister, Paige Fogen, said although her brother enjoyed hiking and the outdoors, it would be "weird" if he went on a hiking trip to B.C. without telling anyone. "This is out of character for him," she said. "It's been a really difficult time for the whole family."
The family told media they intend to continue searching for Iwaasa, spreading the word on social media and putting up posters along the route between Calgary, Lethbridge and Pemberton.
The file is now solely in the hands of Calgary police.
Iwaasa is described as 5-11 (183 centimetres) tall, approximately 170 pounds (77 kilograms), with brown eyes, shoulder-length brown hair, usually tied back, and a moustache. When last seen, he was a wearing a green hoodie, a grey toque, red high-top shoes and black pants.
Anyone with information about Iwaasa's disappearance, or his movements any time after Sunday, Nov. 17, is asked to contact the Pemberton RCMP at 604-894-6634 or the Calgary Police Service at 403-266-1234. Anonymous tips can be sent to Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or at solvecrime.ca.
