Shannon White, seen here in her Jeep, has been missing from Kamloops since Nov.1, 2021.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Andrew Stinson
November 26, 2021 - 11:34 AM
A relative of a missing Kamloops woman has been forced to watch the search from afar at his home in Hamilton.
Andrew Stinson is first cousins with Shannon White’s ex-husband, and has spent time with White off and on since they were teenagers in Ontario.
“It is difficult to be so far away and unable to take part in searching on the ground,” Stinson said. “All I want to do is help. Shannon and I are cousins through marriage and I still consider her family.”
White, 32, has been missing since Nov. 1, when she left her home in Kamloops's Lower Sahali neighbourhood at approximately 8 a.m. She didn't arrive at her job at Kamloops Hyundai on Notre Dame Drive as expected. The next day her Jeep was found parked on Nicola Street near 3 Avenue.
Her vehicle was observed travelling west on the Trans-Canada Highway, shortly after she was supposed to have arrived at work. On the same day, her Jeep also travelled northbound on the Yellowhead Highway, past Rayleigh, before returning south, passing Rayleigh about 45 minutes later.
READ MORE: Kamloops RCMP looking for help to find missing woman
Stinson had been living in Kamloops for a couple of years up until July of this year when he moved back to Dundee, a part of Hamilton. He said the last time he saw White was right before he left.
“We had reconnected when I first got to Kamloops and she got me into the Jeep world,” Stinson said. “She took me for my first Jeep ride around Inks Lake area and I saw how much she enjoyed it. She was pretty quiet when she was younger and it was awesome to see how outgoing she had become.”
Shannon White, 32, has been missing since 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, 2021.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
Stinson said White sold him an old jeep she called White Girl Wasted and the two went on some rides together, adding White introduced him to a lot of great people he now calls friends.
He said they both had a love for the outdoors and the backcountry in the province, something he said may have enticed her to live in Kamloops.
“She and my cousin owned a house in Brantford, Ontario for a few years,” he said. “They sold it, bought an RV and a truck, and travelled around for a bit. I believe someone offered them a job in Savona and they chose to stay.”
While Stinson remains provinces away, he keeps a keen eye on the news and social media, hoping for answers. He said he doesn't have any theories on where White is or where she went.
READ MORE: Friend of missing Kamloops woman Shannon White asks public to check dashcams
"I don't even have a guess," he said. "She seemed really happy and part of a really great group of friends and Jeep lovers doing what she loved."
Stinson said he is grateful to every one who has gone out looking for her.
“Anyone would hope for this kind of support from a community, it is crazy to see how many people are on board.”
Decals have been designed to raise awareness of missing Shannon White.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Miette Koeneman
A small business owner in Barriere, Miette Koeneman, has designed and donated decals in concert with White’s group of friends and supporters. The decals say “Shannon White #nojeepleftbehind” and so far 174 have been made, with many already handed out.
“A number of people contributed materials and I donated my time to create them,” Koeneman said. “It is important and for a good cause. Anything to help make our world a better place.”
Kamloops Search and Rescue said on social this week the search for White has been suspended while RCMP investigate leads.
"Over 11 days, over 200 responding members from six teams put in over 3,000 hours and searched over 800 kilometres by foot," search and rescue said in the post. "That's the equivalent of 18 months of full-time work, and walking to Vancouver and back from Kamloops."
iNFOnews.ca reached out to the Kamloops RCMP’s serious crime unit for updates on the investigation and is waiting for a response.
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