Every public RCMP statement about Lisa Marie Young's case

• Const. Jack Eubank, with the Nanaimo RCMP said, she was immediately put on the national police computer.
• Const. Murray Conway, with the Nanaimo RCMP serious crimes section, said he took on the investigation Wednesday because the uniformed officer who took the initial report Sunday is away until Friday.
• Conway said that he has found nothing to raise suspicions. "Nothing's come up that would suggest foul play, we just don't know where she is," said Conway.

• Const. Jack Eubank said Monday five serious crimes investigators were working on the case.
• Eubank said they have had two dozen tips officers were looking into and, "and more are coming in."
• On Monday, Eubank requested news outlets to direct all inquiries to himself rather than the Youngs. "The family is beginning to feel the strain of the disappearance of their daughter and the many requests from news outlets," said Eubank.

• "Given there was no reason for her to disappear, that she had no history of running away and that everyone she knew said she was a reliable person, police could reach no other conclusion," said Const. Jack Eubank, spokesman for the Nanaimo RCMP. "Everything else has come up negative," he said. "We've just run out of options." Investigators met with Young's parents, Don and Joanne Young, Tuesday afternoon, to inform them of their grim opinion.
• One of the 40 tips, which serious crime investigators continue to examine, is that Young was last seen in a red or burgundy-coloured Jaguar outside The Jungle Cabaret at closing time. Eubank said police have spoken with the owner of that vehicle, but Eubank said they still need details on its movements. Anyone who saw a burgundy 1980s Jaguar in Nanaimo the night of June 30 or on the morning of July 1 is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

• Police will conduct a new search for a 21-year-old missing Nanaimo woman in "the days ahead" after getting a recent tip. Const. Jack Eubank said police got the tip in August and investigators had intended to begin the search after the Labour Day long weekend. The search, however, was delayed after the Sept. 1 shooting of Rosella Centis. A team of investigators, including those investigating Lisa Young's disappearance, worked around the clock following the shooting. A suspect was arrested Sept. 3 and the investigation continued in the days after. Eubank did not say where they would be searching for clues to Young's disappearance.
• About a week later [after Lisa's disappearance], after ruling out the possibility Young had run away, police called her disappearance suspicious and asked for public assistance. The Nanaimo RCMP serious crimes unit then began an intensive investigation. Among the tips police had was one that Young was last seen leaving The Jungle Cabaret in the early hours of Aug. 5 in a maroon Jaguar. Police tracked down the vehicle and the driver and the investigation continues. Police are still interested in hearing from anyone who might have new information.

• Prior to commencing the search, lead investigator Cpl. Doug Hogg told two-dozen officers joining the search how a body may be obscured by brush after lying in the woods for several months. They were also told that previous cursory searches with police dogs had come across bones found to belong to deer. The officers, two with search dogs, split into groups to begin their grim task at Doumont and Biggs Roads. The search began around 9 a.m. and ended shortly before noon. Police found "nothing significant to the investigation," said Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Jack Eubank. He would say only that information they received last month led to the search.
• The driver has been located and interviewed by police. Eubank said further searches in different areas may be carried out in the near future.

• Cpl. Doug Hogg, with the Nanaimo RCMP serious crimes unit, said they have no new leads or information which they think may solve the mystery. He said they are continuing to follow up leads already given them. "Things are progressing, albeit slowly," said Hogg.
• Hogg said they want to search another area north of the city, but have not been able to arrange the required number of officers to scour the brush.

• [Sgt. Dwight] Dammann said police have no reason to think there is a connection between Young and Banman, but all possibilities are being considered. "If there are any areas of connection with Lisa Young, we will be in contact with investigators in Nanaimo," he said.
• Joanne Young, Lisa's mother, said they will return on Saturday to an area at the top of Doumont Road which police searched several months ago.

• Nanaimo RCMP say there is nothing new to report in the case.
• [if you have info please call Lisa's] Uncle RCMP Constable Mike Martin at (250) 838-0703

• We hear she went to that party; they [the police] say she wasn't there, said Young.
• Young said he's not heard from the police in three months, and that they have no interest in his suggestion of a Crime Stoppers spot. "How could a Crime Stoppers spot hurt?" he asked.
• Const. Jack Eubank, spokesman. for the Nanaimo RCMP, said police have gone from nearly daily briefings with the Youngs to less frequent contact because there is little new to tell them. When more information arises which police can share, he said, they will. "We completely understand the emotions Don and Joanne must be going through," said Eubank. "But there haven't been a lot of developments in the investigation." Investigators, said Eubank, would also prefer that as the one-year marker of Lisa's disappearance approaches they could solve the case.
• Eubank also said that Crime Stoppers no longer does re-enactments of crimes. (republished in avt20030603)

• Police didn't even search for Lisa until three months after she was reported missing, Carol said, "They said they didn't have enough man-power."
• Sgt. Doug Chisholm of the Nanaimo Serious Crimes Unit said that on began the day Lisa was reported missing. Although he did not mention when the actual ground search took place he said they immediately responded by tracing Lisa's last contact with people and where she was last seen, "By the end of the first week we had concerns and in fact were very focused on the investigation." Chisholm said.
• Police searched the man's maroon Jaguar using infrared light and DNA testing and found no evidence that could keep him in custody. He was released shortly after, though the RCMP told the Youngs they were sure he was withholding information critical to the case. Don was distraught and prepared to alert media about the man's release. Two officers from the Nanaimo detachment showed up at their house, warning Don they would charge him with obstruction of justice if he pursued media coverage. RCMP said they did not want the Young's "interfering with the integrity of the RCMP". Sgt. Chisholm is hesitant to discuss the case as it is still an active investigation, but admitted Lisa's case is a missing person's case with suspected foul play. "Suffice to say we feel strongly about an individual, but there isn't sufficient evidence to charge him," Chisholm said. "I hesitate greatly to discuss this as there hasn't been sufficient evidence to charge anyone," he said. However, RCMP admitted to believing there is a connection between Lisa's disappearance and the individual. Joanne was warned on a separate occasion via a letter on RCMP letterhead for telling one Nanaimo paper about the man who was taken into custody then released. Persistent in the search for her daughter, Joanne contacted Crime Stoppers and inquired about making a re-enactment video of the last place Lisa was seen. Constable Jossee Smith of Crime Stoppers instructed Joanne that one of the investigators of Lisa's case would have to request a re-enactment video be made as they hold the file with all information pertaining to Lisa's disappearance. Joanne then asked one of the investigators to make the request to make the request to Crime Stoppers and he told her he didn't feel it would be helpful at this time, In fact, Constable Jack Eubank, spokesman for the RCMP in Nanaimo, made a media statement saying Crime Stoppers no longer does re-enactments of crimes. According to Constable Smith Crime Stoppers still makes re-enactment videos. When Smith was then asked what the process is to make a re-enactment video she said, "it is always up to the investigator; they send in their request either by fax or by phone with details of the files and pictures". Don and Joanne are concerned because communication with RCMP has all but stopped. Much of their time is spent waiting for officers to return phone calls. Don emailed the investigators expressing his frustration with the lack of communication and in a returned email investigators responded with apologies for their lack of communication, explaining communications have dwindled because they have nothing to tell them yet. Francis Frank expresses empathy for the Young family, "I can imagine how they feel; powerless and frustrated with the system." Sgt. Chisholm spoke highly of the investigators in charge of Lisa's case. "We've been fairly open with the Young's," he said. "We have very dedicated people committed to pursuing the investigation." He explained again the hesitancy investigators had about providing much information about the case as it is an active investigation.

• On Thursday Const. Jack Eubank, spokesman for the Nanaimo RCMP, issued a news release stating all such rumours about Lisa Young are untrue. "Over the last several weeks there have been rumours circulating around the Nanaimo area suggesting that Lisa Young has been located," he said. "Nanaimo RCMP are advising that Lisa has not been found and that the matter is still under active investigation. RCMP further wish to advise that these rumours are causing a great deal of anguish and distress to Lisa's family."
• Young went missing on the Canada Day long weekend last year and police believe she was a victim of foul play. So far they have been unable to collect enough evidence to confirm what happened to her, or to make an arrest.

• "Aliens are the only ones we haven't heard," observes Nanaimo RCMP Const. Jack Eubank.
• Eubank insists the case is still alive.
• It was a long weekend and downtown, says Eubank, was "a happenin' place".
• It is not unusual for police to be vague about possible future evidence, particularly in what Eubank calls "a complex investigation."
• [Lisa's parents] even received a letter, basically cutting them off from further details from the RCMP.
• At one time [Lisa's father] began e-mailing the grandparent, until he was warned off by the RCMP. Eubank won't confirm this or even that Joanne Young late in July 2002 was taken by RCMP to confront the Jaguar driver, in a small room with a large photo of her daughter and a white board on which the troubling words, "Rape," "murder" and "accident" were written. It was a brief meeting, she reports, in which she asked the driver to tell her where her daughter was. She remembers him saying something like "I can't," before pausing and then trailing off with "I'm sorry, I don't mean to disrespect your family." ... "He doesn't look like a monster," she recalls telling the RCMP officer. "Monsters," he replied, "come in all shapes and sizes." While the RCMP won't confirm any of this, those familiar with RCMP investigation techniques say Young's account is plausible.
• Don Young's last encounter with the RCMP was chilly. He had warned them he was planning to update the posters. The new batch would be more than just photos and a description. The new ones would name the driver. The RCMP asked the Youngs not to do this. Last January, the Youngs went ahead anyway.

• The RCMP, however, said releasing a list of all 114 unsolved files, some of which date back to 1924, would compromise investigations and upset families. "The broad scope of your request would identify all files as unsolved homicides, which may or may not be the case," Const. Darren Lagan of Island District's strategic communications office wrote in a July 31 e-mail. "The RCMP investigates all suspicious deaths as homicides, until such time as evidence proves otherwise. Given this fact, there may well be incidents contained in the 114 files, which ultimately, are not homicides. The families, and survivors of the deceased in these matters may be negatively impacted by media reports identifying their loved ones as part of 'unsolved homicide' files." Lagan said the decision to withhold the list was made after discussions with the investigators as well as Chief Supt. Rick Betker, commanding officer of the Island District. "The RCMP remains committed to these investigations, and the families involved," Lagan said. "Should this response not meet your satisfaction, you may choose to proceed further in ascertaining your requested information via an access to information request." The Times Colonist made a second attempt a week later, asking for a list of confirmed homicides that remain unsolved, as well as a separate list of all unsolved missing persons cases without indicating which might involve foul play. The RCMP has yet to respond.
• Despite the lack of co-operation from senior RCMP officers, many detachment commanders, municipal police forces, retired police officers, and front-line investigators have been more helpful. The Times Colonist was able to compile a partial list of unsolved cases by calling detachments across the Island, speaking to ex-cops, and pulling old newspaper clippings.
• RCMP headquarters placed a ban on detachment commanders from speaking to the media about the cases, referring questions to the E Division communications sections or to the Island District Major Crime Unit — an integrated unit of Mounties and Victoria police officers. The RCMP's unsolved homicide unit in Vancouver also refused interview requests. Late last week, the RCMP finally lifted the ban, but by then, a number of detachment commanders were unavailable for comment or didn't have time to review the files. The decision to withhold a comprehensive list of unsolved cases and thwart interviews represents a departure for the RCMP.

• Frantic, Joanne and Don decided to call the police. They knew something was wrong, yet the officer who took the call seemed unconcerned. "He said, 'She's only been missing a short time' and that I'd have to call back in 48 hours," remembers Joanne.
• Joanne also raises concerns around communication with police. "The only time we hear from them is when we call them," she says. In the summer of 2009, unidentified human remains were found in an area north of Nanaimo. Although police promised to warn the family if something like this were to happen, the family found out through a journalist who called to tell them that a story on the discovery would be airing that night. "The media really speculated...they said it might be Lisa," says Joanne. The family did not know what to think. They hardly got any sleep that night. Finally, days later, they got a call from the police. They said that it was a "courtesy call" to let them know that the remains were not Lisa. Joanne says it has been mainly the same detectives working on Lisa's case, although there have been some changes. Reassignments are always difficult. You get to know and trust someone, she explains, and suddenly there is someone else involved and they may seem less personable or willing to talk to you. Or they say the same thing over and over: 'There are no new developments.' It is very frustrating, particularly because the police rarely contact the family anymore. Still, the RCMP maintains the investigation remains active and, despite everything, Joanne believes that many of the officers have their heart in finding Lisa. One of the detectives in the Serious Crime Unit has her picture by his desk.

• Constable Gary O'Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP re-iterated. "This is not collecting dust. It will always be an open investigation," he said. "We believe that there is somebody out there that has information that can assist with the investigation and we need to hear from them. They can go to any police detachment in Canada or anywhere in the world and talk to a police officer. If they want to remain anonymous, they can call the generic Crime Stoppers line."
• O'Brien said a substantial amount of tips have come in regarding Lisa Marie's case. "Every one of those tips has been investigated and it's essential that we do so. It's been 16 years. There have been a lot of investigators. There's always a fresh set of eyes; we are always looking at ways to move forward with it. That file will never be closed until we find out who is responsible for her disappearance and hold them accountable," said Cst. O'Brien.
• Cst. O'Brien, who knew Lisa Marie when she was a teenager, represented the Nanaimo RCMP at the vigil. "I remember the call from her good friend the night she went missing. “Hey, Gary, I can't get a hold of Lisa Marie, we're really, really worried for her.” And unbeknownst to me, the investigation had already started," he remembers.

• "It's very active," said Nanaimo RCMP media relations officer Const. Gary O'Brien of the case. "It's been 18 years. We've got a number of investigators working on it and people have come forward, recently. We're following up on tips."
• "For whatever reason, some people may not have come forward then," O'Brien said. "We need to hear from those people. We know there's people out there who have information that can move this investigation forward."

• [MP Paul Manly:] People phoned the RCMP right away, and they started to raise awareness about her being missing. An RCMP officer came by and had a discussion with them, but then went away. He was away, off duty, for five days. When they talked to someone else, that person said they should give it 48 hours.
• The RCMP dismissed an urgent call from a witness who is believed to be an associate and accomplice of Lisa's killers who called to alert the Young family that Lisa's body was being moved at the moment it was being moved from the original location. The RCMP ignored that call, basically saying that she was not a credible witness, mainly because she was tied to criminals, there might have been drugs involved and she might have been street-involved.
• The RCMP failed to respond to other members of the public seeking to provide information on Lisa's disappearance or murder. In some instances, police have entirely failed to respond. In other instances, their response has been delayed. One informant, a former associate of the prime suspect believed to be Lisa's killer, one of several responsible in her death, called the RCMP in 2006 to report details of Lisa's murder, a videotape of the crime and more.
• Once the podcast was released this summer, the RCMP started actually doing some interviews of people.

• Unfortunately Crimestoppers and the Nanaimo RCMP don't work together anymore. If you report a tip to Crimestoppers the police will not look into it. This is because of changes to the law. So if you have information we need you to go directly to the police. Corporal Markus Muntener is the lead investigator of Lisa's case and he is working hard to find Lisa.
• This is the primary case that explains how Crime Stoppers Tips must be handled. If a tip is disclosed inadvertently or police act on that tip in a way that creates evidence then charges can be stayed by Crown. AKA the file never goes to court.
  
  https://www.canlii.org/.../1997canl.../1997canlii367.html

Update on Lisa Marie Young missing person investigation

At 12 pm on Saturday June 26, 2021 the Nanaimo RCMP will be hosting a press conference on the front steps of the Nanaimo detachment. The purpose of the press conference is to provide an update on the status of the Lisa Marie Young missing person investigation. Following the press conference, attendees are encouraged to walk to Maffeo Sutton Park where a number of community leaders will be speaking. (see attached poster)

Lisa Marie disappeared in the early morning hours of June 30, 2002 and she would have celebrated her 40th birthday earlier this year. Since her disappearance, investigators have considered her case a homicide. All information received, either from years ago or just recently, and can be corroborated, is being pursued, said Corporal Markus Muntener, lead investigator on this case.

Recently, investigators received credible information that has lead to detailed searches being carried out at several locations throughout Nanaimo. As information is analysed and received, there is a possibility that further searches may also be carried out. These searches are conducted by officers trained in search techniques and use the latest in search technology.

The investigation has spanned over 19 years but police are still encouraging witnesses to come forward. Over the course of the investigation, numerous individuals for various reasons, have decided to come forward and provide important information. Some of these witnesses were previously uncomfortable speaking with police. "With the passage of time and change in their circumstances and lifestyle, they now feel it is the right thing to do and have provided key statements to the police, said Muntener.

Investigators are encouraging anyone who has not come forward to do so. Police are also asking if anyone has previously passed on information to police and are unclear if the information was received or not, to reach out to the investigative team. To provide information on the disappearance of Lisa Marie Young, please call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.

Released by
Cst. Gary O'Brien Media Relations Officer
Nanaimo RCMP nanaimo.rcmp-grc.gc.ca 303 Prideaux St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 2N3
Office: 250-755-3257 Cell: 250-713-0701 Fax: 250-755-3238 Email: gary.obrien@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Date modified: 2021-06-25

On Saturday, Nanaimo RCMP held their first news conference about the case in years, outside of their detachment.

Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP media spokesperson, said during the press conference that he wished the event was being held to make a major announcement in the case, but that simply isn't the case. While foul play was immediately suspected after she went missing, no arrests have ever been made and her whereabouts remain a mystery.

Instead, he told reporters that with the 19-year anniversary of Young's disappearance fast approaching, investigators have been working hard over the years and continue to work the case.

"The reality is she has been missing for 19 years and she would have celebrated her 40th birthday earlier this year," he said. "We've had a number of investigators in 19 years work on this file and everyone their single goals was to find out what happened to her, hold those accountable for their actions and most importantly, to bring her home."

Cpl. Markus Muntener, lead investigator of the case, told reporters "there have been numerous searches for Young conducted in the past year alone due to new information.

Those searches were extensive in detail and we have more of those searches planned in the future at some point," he said. Additionally, Muntener revealed that investigators have heard from multiple witnesses, who had previously not come forward, have also come forward. "It took great courage for those people to come forward and provide information that is credible and important for the investigation," he said. "A lot of those people may not have been comfortable doing that early on in this investigation but through the course of time and changes in their circumstances, they have come forward."

However, despite whatever progress has been made, Young remains missing and Muntener pleaded with anyone who hasn't come forward with information to speak with investigators. "For those people who haven't come forward, just knowing that other people have come forward and talked to us and provided us statements, should hopefully give you some peace of mind and give you the courage to come forward and talk to us and help move things forward," he said. Cpl. Markus Muntener of Nanaimo RCMP speaking with media about the Lisa Young case Const. Hailey Pinfold, who is also assigned to the case, said investigators have been approaching the case with an open mind. What we really want people to take away is that we are here to listen, she said. "We want anybody who thinks they might have any information, whether it be a small piece of information or the spoke to the police 18 years ago and they feel that they still have that piece of information, we are just asking that people come talk to us because we are here to listen."

• Const. Hayley Pinfold and Corp. Markus Muntener said that since they took over the file in late 2018 police have introduced techniques into the investigation, such as a police dog and ground-penetrating radar. When you're dealing with potential areas that are large, that's the kind of technique you have to use to narrow things down, said Muntener of the radar method. Since Hayley and I have started the investigation we've had numerous people come forward."
• "We're just asking that people come talk to us, because we are here to listen to everybody no matter what their circumstances are now or in the past," said Const. Pinfold. "We are coming at this investigation from an open-minded approach. We're reviewing all our information on our investigation, whether it's historic or information that's coming in currently, and we're assessing that information to determine and prioritize how we're going to go forward." Corp. Muntener added that over the years the file has become enormous, including 15,000 documents and hundreds of witnesses. When we're talking about witnesses from 19 years ago, it's much more challenging to go back and corroborate that, he admitted, although a valid piece of information could open up the mystery into what happened to the young woman. That could change overnight if an important person comes forward and talks to us that adds a very significant part of that puzzle.

• Cpl. Markus Muntener, lead investigator, told a news conference Saturday police are using ground-penetrating radar after receiving information from new witness statements at undisclosed sites around Nanaimo and have recently been using a dog trained in finding human remains. Further searches are planned as information is gathered from witnesses, police said. With the passage of time and change in their circumstances and lifestyle, they now feel it is the right thing to do and have provided key statements to the police, said Muntener. He said the case involves all seven officers in Nanaimo RCMP's homicide division. About 15,000 documents have been collected and hundreds of people have been interviewed. Any new information is important, said Muntener. It opens another door.
• RCMP encouraged anyone who may have information to come forward, hoping some witnesses who may have been uncomfortable talking to police in the past will do so now. We want other people out there who may have information to come forward. Come talk to us, and help us move the investigation forward, said Muntener.

• Cst. Gary O'Brien said their serious crimes investigators continue reviewing new tips that continue to come in. He said new investigators have worked the case in recent years, bringing fresh sets of eyes and new techniques. When information comes to light and we feel there's a need a search will be done or an area will be canvassed — we'll do whatever is necessary to find out who's responsible for this, O'Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.
• Cst. O'Brien said there are other people locally who have chosen for whatever reason to withhold potentially valuable information. We still need to speak to them. Don't assume that we have the information, you may have a piece that moves this investigation further, O'Brien said.

• Among those taking part in the march are a pair of Nanaimo’s RCMP’s lead investigators in Lisa Young’s file who say they get new tips a few times each month. “There are still people coming forward. None of that has broken the case wide open but it’s like putting together a big puzzle so every time someone comes in and talks to us and gives us a little bit more with that puzzle it helps us along,” said Cpl. Markus Muntener, with Nanaimo RCMP.