Ben Tyner is shown in an undated RCMP handout photo.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / RCMP
March 16, 2021 - 11:28 AM
A larger reward is now available for information in the case of a Merritt-area man who is missing and believed to have been murdered.
The family of Ben Tyner posted on Facebook that another $15,000 has been added to the reward, for a total of up to $30,000. The additional money comes from John Liu, owner of the Nicola Ranch in Merritt.
"We are extremely grateful to John for matching our funds. We are still in weekly contact with RCMP and feel that real progress is being made. Your continued prayers and support are as always greatly appreciated! Stay safe!" the Tyner family Facebook post said.
Ben Tyner disappeared from the Merritt area, Jan. 26, 2019.
READ MORE: Family offers $15K reward in effort to find missing Merritt cowboy
His horse was found on a logging road off Highway 97 near Winnie Flats, and prompted a large scale search effort over several days.
"To date, numerous investigational avenues have been explored and in order to protect the ongoing investigation police are unable to share those findings publicly at this time. However, based on those findings, major crime investigators have reason to believe that criminality was involved in Ben Tyner's disappearance, and is the victim of a homicide," Southeast District RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in January.
Anyone with any information is urged to call their local RCMP, or the Southeast District Major Crime Unit information line at 1-877-987-8477 or B.C. Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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