Call back in 48 hours
“Call back in 48 hours.”
- —Nanaimo RCMP to Lisa's mother
- July 1, 2002 11:30am
Summary
When Lisa's mother first called Nanaimo RCMP to report Lisa's disappearance, she was told that a file could not be opened for 48 hours, and was advised to call back then.
This is despite the fact that no police force in Canada has ever had a "waiting period" before a "missing persons" report can be filed, and, in fact, research clearly shows that the first 72 hours are the most crucial to a missing persons investigation.
Detail
Parent's efforts before calling RCMP
Lisa's parents had reason to be concerned; it was not without due diligence that the decision was made to contact the RCMP.
Lisa failed to show up for early-morning plans with her father,[3] who was going to help her move into her new apartment using his Purolator Courier truck.[1][2] The move was something Lisa had been looking forward to, and she had pre-paid a deposit on her new unit. As Lisa was normally extremely reliable, her parents were immediately very concerned.[4][5][6]
Calls by Lisa's mother to her cellphone were forwarded directly to voicemail.[3] This added concern as Lisa had purchased the cellphone proactively/primarily so that her parents could always contact her (as she'd always been very close to her parents).[7] Lisa always carefully ensured the phone was charged, and she had never powered it off.[8]
Lisa's parents retrieved her address book and called "all" of her many friends.[9] Multiple friends said they saw her the previous night, in conversation outside the bar with the unknown male driver of a maroon Jaguar.[10] Others reported seeing her at a houseparty on Nanaimo Lakes Road[11], or another in the Cathers Lake area.[12] But nobody knew where Lisa was now.[13]
Contacted Police
By this point, Lisa's parents were frantic.
On Monday, July 1st, 2002 (Canada Day) at about 11:30am[4], Joanne Young (Lisa's mother) called the Nanaimo RCMP detachment to report that her daughter was missing.[9]
Report refused by RCMP
RCMP told Lisa's mother that a report could not be filed until 48 hours after Lisa was last seen, so she should call back at that point.[8][13][3]
Policy & Research
While once a common myth, no police force in Canada has ever had a policy requiring a delay before submission of a "missing persons" report.[15]
Research shows that the first 72 hours are considered to be the most critical time frame of a "missing persons" investigation.[14][16]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nelson Bennet, Nanaimo Daily News (Jul 25, 2002), "Lisa's kin follow psychic tip"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jim Gibson, Times Colonist (Apr 4, 2004), "The case Nanaimo can't forget"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Jul 4, 2002), "Parents fear daughter the victim of foul play"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Jul 10, 2002), "Police fear local met with foul play"
- ↑ Jolene Rudisuela, Capital Daily (May 5, 2021), "More people go missing in BC than anywhere else in Canada. No one knows why"
- ↑ Fort McMurray Today (Jul 10, 2002), "Foul play suspected in missing B.C. woman"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Jul 9, 2002), "RCMP keep searching for woman"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Eric Plummer, Ha-Shilth-Sa (Jun 24, 2019), "Legacy of Lisa Marie Young to hang in Tofino"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Allison Crowe, NWAC (May 1, 2015), "Story Telling - Lisa Marie Young (PDF)"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (Jul 12, 2002), "Woman's disappearance leaves friends perplexed ...rumours unfounded"
- ↑ Paul Walton, Nanaimo Daily News (May 29, 2003), "When sadness turns to anger"
- ↑ Vancouver Sun (Feb 26, 2011), "Nanaimo RCMP appeal for help"
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Paul Manly, House of Commons (Oct 8, 2020), "Debates (Hansard) No. 12 (43-2) at 1525"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Julia Jacobo, ABC News (October 8, 2018), "Why the first 72 hours in a missing persons investigation are the most critical, according to criminology experts"
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Canadian Centre for Information on Missing Adults, "Quick Facts about Reporting a Missing Adult in Canada"
- ↑ NIWRC, "Quick Reference Guide for What to Do in the First 72 Hours"