Story by clippings
The story of Lisa's disappearance and the investigation that followed, as told by newspaper clippings.
Lisa Marie Young was a 21-year-old[1] half-Indigenous[2] woman who on Canada Day 2002[3] "disappeared" from Nanaimo, BC[4] while out celebrating with friends.[5]
Lisa's story has always garnered significant public interest, including "thousands" of tips submitted to the RCMP. The case has been the subject of hundreds of articles in reputable publications, the investigation discussed on multiple occasions at the House of Commons in Ottawa, and several dozen podcast episodes have been privately produced, originating from across the planet, including an award-winning 10+ hour analysis hosted by a retired CBC executive. It's been called "Nanaimo's most notorious unsolved crime".
The case has seen no arrests, Lisa's remains have not been recovered, and investigators are no closer to resolving the case than they were two decades ago, despite many locals claiming to know the disturbing truth of what happened to Lisa that night.
This wiki will provide you with the whole story. Care has been taken to support every claim with citations to reputable references including links to original sources wherever possible. You'll also learn the independently-verified "inside story" including information that will finally provide closure to this heartbreaking case — and the shocking events that unfolded after the answers were brought to the RCMP.
From the start, Nanaimo RCMP openly admitted to the media that they weren't very concerned about Lisa's disappearance.
This was despite several red flags...
Monday morning, Lisa had missed plans she'd made with her father who was going to help her move into a new apartment.
The next day, she also missed her first day of training at a call centre where she'd been eager to start work.
Lisa shared a beer with her dad on the night she vanished.
![The Youngs last saw [Lisa] about 11pm … she was having a bath and then going out.](/w/File:Tc20040404e.png)
The Youngs last saw Lisa around 11pm.
She was having a bath and then going out.
She dressed in a black skirt, black top, black zip-up thigh-high boots, and a silver hoop necklace.
![Lisa was out celebrating a friends' birthday.Nanaimo Daily News, June 26, 2009 [5]](/w/File:Ndn20090626a.png)
Lisa headed out to celebrate a friend's birthday.
Calls to Lisa's cellphone — which she'd purchased specifically so her parents could always reach her — were now going straight to voicemail.
Lisa's parents were very close with their daughter, and it was unlike her to not be in touch.
![She called every number in [Lisa's phone book]](/w/File:Nw20150501b.png)
Lisa's mother called every number in Lisa's phone number book.
Lisa's chilling final text message:
"Come get me, they won't let me leave."
See also: Lisa's final phone call
![[Lisa's parents] called police at 11:30am on July 1.](/w/File:Ndn20020710a.png)
Frantic, Don and Joanne decided to call the police, at 11:30am on July 1st.
Nanaimo RCMP initially refused to accept Lisa's mother's report of her daughter's disappearance. She was told to call back in 2 days.
![[RCMP] said they needed her to be gone 48 hours [before a report could be filed]](/w/File:Hss20190624b.png)
RCMP said they needed her to be gone 48 hours before a report could be filed.
"The first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical," according to criminology experts.
![He asked some questions and took a photograph of Lisa. Then he told them he was off for the next four days and to call him on Friday. [Lisa's parents] were incredulous. This was on a Sunday. [When they contacted the media] a reporter came over right away.]](/w/File:Nw20150501a.png)
A uniformed officer finally attended, to pick up a photo of Lisa. When Lisa's parents tried to follow up with him the next day, they were told he was on 5 scheduled days off, so they should call back after that. Lisa's parents were incredulous.
When they contacted the media, a reporter came over right away. Lisa's story first made headlines on July 4th.
By this point, RCMP's efforts were limited to putting Lisa "on the police computer."
Lisa's family began their own search efforts.
![[Lisa's dad,] a Purolator driver, has the co-operation of his co-workers are now distributing posters bearing Lisa's picture throughout the Island.](/w/File:Ndn20020705b.png)
Lisa's dad, a Purolator driver, has the co-operation of his co-workers are now distributing posters bearing Lisa's picture throughout the Island.
Police said they have "a number of tips that they want to follow-up on."
Lisa worked for Paul Manhas at 3 of his establishments: The Old Flag Inn and the Palace Hotel, before moving up to work at the busy Jungle Cabaret.
![[RCMP have received] two dozen tips](/w/File:Ndn20020709a.png)
Within days of Lisa's disappearance, RCMP received two dozen tips.
Lisa had been missing 10 days before Nanaimo RCMP became concerned about Lisa's disappearance.
![[RCMP have received] 40 tips](/w/File:Ndn20020710c.png)
By day 10, RCMP had received 40 tips from the public.
By day 11, more than 100 tips had been received.
Police spoke with Gerry Adair of Qualicum Beach, the owner of the maroon Jaguar in which Lisa was last seen. Gerry's grandson Chris had borrowed the car on the night of Lisa's disappearance.
The car was a mint-condition maroon late-80's Jaguar XJ-40.
The driver has been located and questioned by police.
![[Adair is] being held in Saskatchewan awaiting trial on a charge of assaulting a police officer.](/w/File:P20020902e.png)
Chris Adair is being held in Saskatchewan awaiting trial on a charge of assaulting a police officer.
Rumours circulated that Lisa's body had been located out of town.
The rumours only made it harder on Lisa's parents.
Lisa's parents contacted her bank and cell provider.Lisa had money in her bank account which hadn't been touched, and she hadn't used her cellphone.
The last signals from Lisa's cell phone were traced to the Departure Bay area of Nanaimo.
3½ weeks after Lisa's disappearance, "the police appeared no closer" to solving the case, despite numerous tips."We've received well over 100 to 150 tips on the case."
Lisa's maternal grandfather Moses Martin (tribal chief of the 800-member Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation) organized search parties across Vancouver Island, following leads garnered from "tips, hunches and psychics."
Chief Martin had another granddaughter who was also a victim of murder. Chantel Moore was shot four times by an RCMP officer during a "wellness check."
![[pieced together the evening based on] what Lisa's friends told them and what they learned 2nd-hand from tapping into a network of cabbies and couriers.](/w/File:Tc20040404f.png)
Lisa's family pieced together her evening based on what they'd heard from Lisa's friends, and 2nd-hand from tapping into a network of cabbies and couriers.
Police will search for Lisa in 'the days ahead.' The search was delayed after the Sept 1st shooting of Rosella Centis. Investigators were pulled off of Lisa's case. The shooter was arrested Sept 3rd.
![Centis arrested at home 2 blocks from the police station, 2 days after [shooting his wife], as his daughter watched.](/w/File:Vs20020904a.png)
Rosella's husband was arrested at home without incident, 2 blocks from the police station, 2 days after shooting his wife as his daughter watched.
Eubank did not say where they would be searching for clues to Young's disappearance.
![[police searched] Doumont & Biggs Roads](/w/File:Ndn20020918c.png)
Police searched the area of Doumont & Biggs Roads.
Lisa is officially listed as "missing," but police were looking for a body when they searched a wooded area south of Nanaimo.
![[first RCMP search was based on] information they received last month](/w/File:Ndn20020918f.png)
The first RCMP search was based on information they received in August.
The search began around 9am and ended before noon.
Cpl. Hogg told 2-dozen officers how a body may be obscured by brush after lying in the woods for several months.
Cpl. Hogg said they want to search another area north of the city, but have not been able to arrange the required number of officers.
![[Lisa's family] will return to [search the area police searched several months ago.](/w/File:Ndn20021129a.png)
Lisa's family repeated the search of the same area police had searched several months earlier.
Lisa's dad believes she went to a party on Nanaimo Lakes Road. "We hear she went to that party ... the police say she wasn't there."
![…last seen at about 3am [wrong date] leaving a house party in the Cathers Lakes area of Nanaimo](/w/File:Vs20110226a.png)
Lisa was last seen at about 3am leaving a 2nd house party, in the Cathers Lakes area of Nanaimo.
Around 3am, Lisa was hungry and the driver offered to take her to get pizza while others stayed behind.
![[Lisa's parents are] disappointed by the lack of progress by police](/w/File:Ndn20030725b.png)
Lisa's parents are disappointed by the lack of progress by police.
![[Lisa's family has put up] posters all over the Island and billboards in Nanaimo](/w/File:Ndn20030725a.png)
Lisa's family has put up posters all over the Island, as well as billboards in Nanaimo.
Two Tla-o-qui-aht divers searched the upper Colliery Dam reservoir based on information from Chemainus psychic Christine Brant, who directed Lisa's family to "an area with 3 connected bodies of water, a flat-roofed building and grown-in paths" which perfectly describes Colliery Dam Park (right across the street from the location of the first houseparty).
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.Eubank also said that Crime Stoppers no longer does re‑enactments of crimes.This was a blatant lie.
The new posters would name the driver. RCMP warned the Youngs not to do this, but they went ahead anyway.
Lisa's parents were visited by two Nanaimo RCMP officers, warning that they would be charged with Obstruction of Justice if they pursued media coverage.
![[investigator told Lisa's mom] he didn't feel [a Crime Stoppers video] would be helpful at this time.](/w/File:Hss20030814e.png)
An investigator told Lisa's mother that he didn't feel a Crime Stoppers re‑enactment video would be helpful.
The Nanaimo RCMP's official spokesman told the media Crime Stoppers no longer does re‑enactments of crimes, yet Crime Stoppers say they're never stopped.
Crime Stoppers still makes re‑enactment videos. It's always been up to the investigator to initiate the process by calling/faxing basic case details.
Jossee Smith of Crime Stoppers said they never stopped making videos. They just need some basic information from the investigator.
![A Crime Stoppers re-enactment of Lisa's last known activities was aired [wrong date]](/w/File:Hss20120515a.png)
A Crime Stoppers re‑enactment of Lisa's last known activities was aired 2009*. * corrected date.
Crime Stoppers has paved the way for the resolution of many crimes.Earlier this year Crime Stoppers began working on a re‑enactment of what is known about Lisa's final hours before her disappearance.
Nanaimo RCMP hope reviving such unsolved cases can help jog a person's memory and generate fresh leads. Wearne is one of several actors who volunteered her time late last week to help with the project... Police hope the exposure will prompt someone to step forward. "We're hoping somebody may remember something ... We're hoping it generates discussion."
Facebook post on behalf of Muntener: "Crime Stoppers and Nanaimo RCMP don't work together anymore. If you report a tip to Crime Stoppers, the police won't look into it."
![[Lisa's mom] in July 2002 was taken to the RCMP to confront the Jaguar driver… I can't, I'm sorry I don't mean to disrespect your family.](/w/File:Tc20040404d.png)
Lisa's mom was taken to the Parksville RCMP detachment to confront the Jaguar driver. "I can't, I'm sorry I don't mean to disrespect your family."
In the room was a whiteboard on which the troubling words, rape, murder and accident were written.
![[Lisa's mom] asked the driver to tell her where her daughter was… [he said] I can't, before pausing and then trailing off with I'm sorry, I don't mean to disrespect your family.](/w/File:Tc20040404b.png)
Lisa's mother asked the driver to tell her where her daughter was.
He said, "I can't," before pausing and then trailing off with "I'm sorry, I don't mean to disrespect your family."
He was released shortly after, though the RCMP told the Youngs they were sure he was withholding information critical to the case.
Joanne was warned on RCMP letterhead for telling one Nanaimo paper about the man who was taken into custody and then released without providing a solid explanation of the circumstances under which Lisa left the car he was driving.
Lisa's father began e-mailing Chris's grandmother, until he was warned off by the RCMP.
They were basically "cut off" from receiving further details from the RCMP.
![[RCMP made Lisa's mom] feel angry for trying to convince her not to pursue other means of discovering what happened to Lisa. I had wanted to hire a private investigator but the police dissuaded me from that saying that he would only be retracing the work they had already done.](/w/File:Tc20070505a.png)
RCMP made Lisa's mother feel angry for trying to convince her not to pursue other means of discovering what happened to Lisa. "I had wanted to hire a private investigator but the police dissuaded me from that saying that he would only be retracing the work they had already done."
![[RCMP have received] hundreds of tips](/w/File:Nnb20120621a.png)
By 2012, RCMP had received hundreds of tips related to Lisa's case.
![[RCMP have received] more than 800 tips](/w/File:Hss20190624c.png)
By 2019, RCMP had received over 800 tips related to Lisa's case.
Lisa's family pieced together Lisa's evening based on what they'd heard from Lisa's friends, and learned 2nd-hand from tapping into a network of cabbies and couriers.
A 2022 update to the RCMP's official dossier added a claim that Lisa had taken a taxi... but Lisa's parents had already checked with the taxi companies back in 2002. "There was no record of a taxi."
(Lisa's parents questioned cabbies, years earlier.)
There was seemingly a connection between Lisa's case and that of Makayla Chang, a 16-year-old who was murdered in 2017.
Makayla's body was located at Colliery Dam Park.
The lead investigator said there have been "numerous" searches for Young conducted in the past year due to new information. "We have more of those searches planned in the future at some point."
Lisa's file had become enormous, including 15,000 documents and hundreds of witnesses.
A US$50,000 reward was put up by an anonymous American. The next day, the lead investigator met with the appointed trustee to discuss conditions of the reward.
More than 100 suspicious missing persons cases remain open and unsolved on Vancouver Island, yet RCMP refuse to identify the cases.
The investigation is not active but will never close the file. Officially she is missing, but police suspect she met with foul play.
"We never close a murder file."
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 4, 2002),
Parents fear daughter the victim of foul play
(src) - ↑ MMIWG Inquiry (Apr 4, 2018),
Vancouver Community MMIWG Hearings Day 1 - Martin Moses and Carla Moss
(source) - ↑ Shaw TV, YouTube (May 15, 2009),
Lisa Marie Young - Crime Stoppers (video)
(source) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nanaimo Daily News (May 6, 2009),
Still unsolved
(source) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nanaimo Daily News (June 26, 2009),
Family will hold vigil for missing Nanaimo woman
(source) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Jim Gibson, Times Colonist (Apr 4, 2004),
The case Nanaimo can't forget
(source) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 Jim Gibson, Calgary Herald (Apr 18, 2004),
Lisa Marie Young: Vanished
(source) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Jason Proctor, Vancouver Province (Sep 2, 2002),
Where is Lisa-Marie?
(source) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 Denise Titian, Ha-Shilth-Sa (May 15, 2012),
Family seeks closure 10 years after daughter's disappearance
(source) - ↑ 10.0 10.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 9, 2002),
RCMP keep searching for woman
(source) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Allison Crowe, NWAC (May 1, 2015),
Story Telling - Lisa Marie Young (PDF)
(source) - ↑ Verity Stevenson, Toronto Star (Aug 6, 2016),
Inquiry brings back memories of Nanaimo woman missing since 2002
(source) - ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 10, 2002),
Police fear local met with foul play
(source) - ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Eric Plummer, Ha-Shilth-Sa (June 24, 2019),
Legacy of Lisa Marie Young to hang in Tofino
(source) - ↑ Julia Jacobo, ABC News (Oct 8, 2018),
Why the first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical
(source) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 5, 2002),
City woman's whereabouts still unknown
(source) - ↑ 17.0 17.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 6, 2002),
Bar staff worried about woman
(source) - ↑ Times Colonist (July 10, 2002),
Foul play feared in disappearance
(source) - ↑ Fort McMurray Today (July 10, 2002),
Foul play suspected in missing B.C. woman
(source) - ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (July 12, 2002),
Woman's disappearance leaves friends perplexed ...rumours unfounded
(source) - ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Sep 18, 2002),
Grim Task: Police comb woods for Lisa Young
(source) - ↑ Nanaimo Daily News (July 17, 2002),
Rumours serve no purpose
(source) - ↑ 23.0 23.1 Nelson Bennett, Nanaimo Daily News (July 25, 2002),
Lisa's kin follow psychic tip
(source) - ↑ Ha-Shilth-Sa (June 13, 2013),
Walk to remember Lisa Marie Young
(source) - ↑ 25.0 25.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Sep 10, 2002),
Tips spark new search for woman
(source) - ↑ Jim Beatty, Vancouver Sun (Sep 4, 2002),
Husband charged in Nanaimo shooting
(source) - ↑ Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Nov 4, 2002),
City police continue search for Lisa Young
(source) - ↑ Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Nov 29, 2002),
Police wait for break in city murder cases ...Young family to search for Lisa
(source) - ↑ 29.0 29.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (May 29, 2003),
When sadness turns to anger
(source) - ↑ NanaimoNewsNow (July 1, 2017),
15 years later: Nanaimo's Lisa Marie Young still missing
(source) - ↑ Vancouver Sun (Feb 26, 2011),
Nanaimo RCMP appeal for help
(source) - ↑ Glenna Burns, Kawartha Promoter (July 12, 2018),
On a healing journey
(source) - ↑ 33.0 33.1 Nanaimo Daily News (July 25, 2003),
Divers to search for Young
(source) - ↑ 34.0 34.1 Robert Barron, Nanaimo Daily News (July 26, 2003),
Divers comb Colliery Dam for Lisa Young
(source) - ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 Ruth Olgilvie, Ha-Shilth-Sa (Aug 14, 2003),
Investigation for missing woman frustrates family
(source) - ↑ Danielle Bell, Nanaimo Daily News (May 19, 2009),
Police hope TV spot sheds light on cold case
(source) - ↑ Cyndy Hall, Facebook (Feb 3, 2021),
Lisa Marie Young - Cyndy Hall photos
(source) - ↑ Times Colonist (May 5, 2007),
Distraught mom hopes missing daughter alive
(source) - ↑ Chris Bush, Nanaimo News Bulletin (June 21, 2012),
Candlelight vigil held for Lisa Marie, Mounties still investigate case
(source) - ↑ Chris Bush, Nanaimo News Bulletin (Jan 3, 2020),
Person of interest in Makayla Chang murder case arrested on unrelated charge
(source) - ↑ Yuliya Talmazan, Global News (May 18, 2017),
RCMP say that a body believed to be that of missing Nanaimo teen Makayla Chang has been located
(source) - ↑ Nicholas Pescod, CHEK News (June 26, 2021),
Nanaimo RCMP plead for more information regarding disappearance of Lisa Marie Young
(source) - ↑ Eric Plummer, Ha-Shilth-Sa (July 2, 2021),
"Bring peace to Lisa": Investigators seek missing link
(source) - ↑ Chris Bush, Alberni Valley Times (Feb 2, 2022),
$50,000 reward offered for location of missing Vancouver Island woman's remains
(source) - ↑ Rob Shaw, Times Colonist (Sep 22, 2008),
RCMP withheld info on unsolved files
(source) - ↑ Nanaimo Daily News (May 4, 2004),
"Happy birthday, Lisa"
(source) - ↑ Paul Walton, Vancouver Province (Dec 24, 2007),
Trail cold on Nanaimo's own missing women
(source)
