RCMP officers in B.C. have called off the search for a Calgary man after his burned-out truck was found in the backcountry last week.
Marshal Iwaasa’s family was in the middle of ramping up a social media and poster campaign when they received word police suspended their search for the 26-year-old.
“You’re just sad because you love him and it hurts and you want him back home,” Jacquie Darmanin, Iwaasa’s cousin, told Global News from her home in White Rock, B.C.
On Nov. 23, Iwaasa’s truck was found by a group of hikers north of Pemberton, B.C., along with two passports — one of which was expired and belonged to Iwaasa — three smashed cellphones, a smashed laptop, a Playstation, an Xbox, clothing and toiletries.
Whistler RCMP Sgt. Rob Knapton said subsequent searches led to the discovery of discarded clothing by a creek, but underwater searches found nothing else.
“We believe that he was likely the driver,” Knapton said. “There was some personal effects around in the area but there’s nothing to suggest there was anything suspicious that occurred.”
Darmanin describes her cousin as a “teddy bear” who always kept in touch with his sister and mother. She added there were no indications he was going through a difficult time, wanted to “get away” or harm himself.
“None of it makes any sense,” Darmanin said. “That his truck was burned out. Why would he have done that? Why would anyone have done that?”
The family said they refuse to give up hope. They are now focusing on putting up more posters, spreading the word on social media and alerting communities along the route between Lethbridge, Calgary and Pemberton.
“We’re trying to reach communities in the smaller areas in between. Anywhere he might have stopped, stayed some place, bought gas,” Darmanin said.
Whistler RCMP said while they have suspended the search for now, they will reassess on a day-to-day basis if new information is brought forward.
If that’s the case, next steps could include bringing in search dogs or holding off until the spring.
Darmanin said if police need a lead to continue their search for Iwaasa, his loved ones will do everything possible to find one.