‘There’s no closure’: 8 years later, Derek Kelly’s family is still waiting for answers

The New Year will mark a grim anniversary for one B.C. family. It has been eight years since Derek Kelly of Langley disappeared.

Kelly, 32, was last seen near Bridge Lake in the Cariboo at a New Year’s Eve party.

“This being the anniversary week before Christmas and New Years, there’s an empty chair at our table,” said Derek’s sister Leeanne. “There’s no phone call and Skype saying what most families do, wishing each other Merry Christmas.”

“Everyday you get up and it’s still there. There’s no closure, there’s no answers, there’s no body. It’s a horrible thing to wake up to every day.”

She says it feels as if their lives have stalled since that day eight years ago.

“You try to move forward, but really life is ‘life before the murder’ and ‘life after the murder,'” she said.

In 2010, RCMP declared Derek’s case a murder investigation but Leeanne says they still do not have a lot of information about what happened to her brother. They say they think they know who killed Derek.

His family says the RCMP uncovered evidence that points to murder.

“Knowing that there’s somebody out there with the information, that could get the answers, could be the Christmas gift of all Christmas gifts, for my parents, for my other brothers,” Leeanne said.

She said her family now wants that person to come forward and tell the police what they know.

“I think it’s time to do the right thing,” she said. “Maybe your life has changed in the last eight years. It’s time, after eight years to do the right thing. Come forward. You don’t have to be proud of what role you had or what role your family member had, but you can be proud to do the right thing.”

“Derek deserves it.”

The family has also set up an email address where people can send any information about the case.