Volunteers with Canadian Search & Disaster Dogs Association (CASDDA) combed the local mountainsides last weekend looking for 25-year-old Kristofer Shawn Couture.
They didn’t find any sign of the missing man whose car was found in Chilliwack back in January.
“Despite the hard work of our dogs, we were unable to locate the missing person,” said CASDDA reps in an online post. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Eva Couture, Kristofer’s mother, says the search and disaster dog group offered a glimmer of hope as the RCMP investigation wound down after they followed up every tip called in by the public.
“We will just keep searching for answers,” Couture said.
Eleven members of CASDDA flew into Chilliwack on Friday, Nov. 15, with a search manager, five dog handlers and their dogs, support people, along with a nurse and vet tech. They braved the rain over the weekend climbing over difficult, slippery terrain to look for the missing man.
“I didn’t think we were going to do any more searches this year, but I would do anything I could to find him,” Couture said.
Ground searches had been conducted in the Elk/Thurston area where Kristofer‘s car was found, but they brought the dogs in to cover areas that had not been searched earlier.
As painful as it is for Couture to face Chilliwack, she plans to return to be present for her son’s birthday on Dec. 9.
“I will be there because I don’t know where else to be.”
The family has received lots of support from the community of Chilliwack.
“The main message is to send a thank you to each and every person, whether it’s for a donation of accommodations, food, people’s time, or sharing his picture, every single act of kindness is appreciated,” Couture said.
READ MORE: Search and disaster dogs on their way to Chilliwack
READ MORE: Mother of missing man begs for information
@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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