UPDATE: RCMP conclude search of underpass after assault linked to missing man
CALGARY- RCMP believe there may be a connection between a missing person case and an investigation into a serious assault west of Calgary.
Family members say Nick Lush, a father of three, was last seen last Saturday night when he left to go to a house party in Springbank.
“It was a cousin’s birthday party–a friend of his cousin’s,” said Lush’s wife’s friend Sarah Stamp, who said family last saw him late Saturday night.
“He questioned if he wanted to go or not; it wasn’t his thing,” said friend Dana Heald, who also spoke to media at a joint press conference Thursday afternoon.
Thirty-two-year-old Lush never returned home as planned.
Cochrane RCMP released a photo of Lush and a car similar to one that may be connected to his disappearance in a call for help from the public to locate the missing man. Police say he was last seen wearing a black Sons of Anarchy T-shirt, a green camouflage spring jacket, blue jeans and black DC running shoes. The vehicle police are searching for in connection to the case is a 2008 Dodge Charger with Alberta licence plate BDY-1907.
RCMP took over the investigation into Lush’s disappearance, and were on scene of what appears to have been a serious assault just west of Calgary on Sunday morning. Police received a call around 8:30 a.m. from someone saying they believed they saw three people as they drove past the underpass at Highway 1 and Hermitage Road. They said it looked like two men had seriously assaulted a third man.
When officers arrived at the scene, they say nobody was there, but forensic evidence was discovered that suggested a serious assault had taken place.
RCMP believe the three men left eastbound on Highway 1 in a grey four-door car. The investigation continued throughout the afternoon.
RCMP wouldn’t say exactly what evidence was collected at the scene, and wouldn’t officially confirm that Lush was the victim of an assault. But family couldn’t help but fear the worst.
“It’s pretty hard to think he’s just going to be coming home with everything that’s gone out,” said Stamp.
Lush is a labourer by trade, but had been unemployed throughout the winter. He’s been married to his high school sweetheart for 15 years.
Anyone with information is asked to call Cochrane RCMP at 403-932-2211 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
With files from Erika Tucker
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