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Searches for 2 missing men in northeastern B.C. suspended, RCMP investigations ongoing

RCMP say they have suspended the separate searches for two missing men — Jim Barnes and Sam Benastick — in northeastern B.C.

Hiker failed to return from trip in far north, hunter missing near Chetwynd: police

Andrew Kurjata · CBC News ·
A composite photo of a man with a hiking stick beside a man in coveralls and gloves in a snowy landscape.
Police say Sam Benastick, left, started his hike in B.C.'s far north on Oct. 7, and was expected to return home on Oct. 17. Searchers are also looking for Jim Barnes, who failed to return from a hunting trip on Oct. 17 near the community of Chetwynd. (RCMP/Micaela Sawyer)

RCMP say they have suspended the separate searches for two men who recently went missing in northeastern British Columbia.

Jim Barnes was last seen on Oct. 18 when he went grouse-hunting with his dog near Groundbirch Forest Service Road near Chetwynd, B.C., about 60 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John.

Sam Benastick, 20, was reported missing after failing to return home Oct. 17 from a 10-day camping trip in remote Redfern-Keily Provincial Park, about 250 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

Cpl. Madonna Saunderson says police will continue to follow leads, but search efforts — which have included dogs, air teams and volunteers from local search and rescue crews — have been called off after several days.

Police have also shared new information in the search for Benastick.

They say his last known location was at the trailhead of the Redfern Lake trail where he was riding a red Honda dirt bike, which they hope may have been spotted by someone in the area.

A man in a baseball cap
Sam Benastick is shown in an RCMP handout photo. (RCMP)
A composite photo of a man holding two grouse beside a picture of a golden retriever.
Jim Barnes and his dog, Murphy. (Submitted by Micaela Sawyer)
A red Honda dirtbike.
RCMP have released a photo of Sam Benastick's red Honda dirtbike, which they say he was riding the last time he was seen. (RCMP)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrew Kurjata

Journalist, Northern British Columbia

Andrew Kurjata is born and based in the city of Prince George, British Columbia, in Lheidli T'enneh territory. He has covered the people and politics of northern B.C. for CBC since 2009. You can email him at andrew.kurjata@cbc.ca or text 250.552.2058.

With files from The Canadian Press and Hanna Petersen

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