Observing the recent number of young men from Metro Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»whove seemingly vanished into thin air, Im reminded of the similar disappearances in the same area between 2006 and 2008.
The similarities between the past and present missing men are striking. Theyre young, or at least have a youthful appearance, fit and sport short hair. Most disappeared after a night out. As far as police know, they have no ties to gangs or criminal activity.
It was the same scenario in 2008 when I wrote a cover story for the Courier called Missing, in which I investigated the disappearances of 22 young men and detailed the cases of several. Along the way I interviewed some of their family members. I wouldnt wish their grief on my worst enemy.
Today, I again have a growing pile of papers detailing the disappearance of young, healthy men from across southern B.C. Most recently the names of local missing men include Matthew Huszar, Michael Gallivan, Brian Mbaruk and Pemadech Tatti. In 2008, the men I featured were Kellen McElwee, Derek Kelly, Bryan Braumberger and John Kahler. Kahlers body was found in 2008 in Stave Lake, one year after he went missing. As far as I know, the cause of death in Kahlers case was never determined.
I spoke with Bryan Braumbergers dad Ron last week and asked if he had any thoughts on these recent disappearances. It will be five years this May since his 18-year-old son vanished without a trace near their Burnaby home. Braumberger senior told me the grief and frustration of not knowing what happened to his son has never eased.
It will never get any easier. How can it? he said. Every time they find a body, its right there again.
When the body of a 20-year-old man was recently found at a Burnaby Park, Braumberger was on pins and needles until the mans identity was confirmed.
It wasnt Bryan, he said quietly. He admitted he has mixed feelings about such a discovery. He desperately hopes Bryan will be found alive one day but he also lives with the daily agony of not knowing his sons fate.
I want closure, said Braumberger.
Braumberger wants Canada to create a national DNA database. He says theres a chance Bryans body may have been found in another province, but without such a database the family will likely never know.
Braumbergers not the only one arguing for the creation of such a vital tool. Judy Peterson, the mother of 14-year-old Lindsey Nicholls, launched a campaign in 2002 to pressure the provincial and federal governments to create such a data bank. Lindsey vanished in 1993 near Courtenay on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Island. Calling her campaign Lindseys Law, Peterson is lobbying for changes to Canadas DNA Identification Act.
Braumberger says the changes cant come fast enough
Who knows, maybe theyve found him in Ontario, but theres no link back, Braumberger said. Theres tons of DNA just sitting there, but theres no way to connect it.
And then there are the feet. The day after my first story about the missing men was published, a mans foot was found in a running shoe on a B.C. beach. And while theres likely no connection, the same pattern repeated itself three more times, including the day after I was interviewed on the radio about my story, the day following my TV appearance on Canada AM and the day after my follow-up story was published.
Id much rather be the one conducting the interview, but in this case I was convinced the more media attention the missing young men were given, the better chance it might trigger someones memory and convince them to step forward.
But that didnt happen.
So all I can do is put out yet one more plea on behalf of the families. Anyone with information about these or any other missing person cases, no matter how trivial it might seem, is asked to call police or the 24-hour Crime Stoppers toll-free line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Twitter: @sthomas10
