Ben Tyner was a 32-year-old professional cowboy and ranch manager who had recently moved from his close-knit family home in Wyoming to Merritt, British Columbia, to take a management position at Nicola Ranch in late 2018. Described by his family as selfless, hardworking, and deeply devoted to ranch life, he had built a reputation as a respected horseman, working in various places, including as far away as Russia, before settling in the Nicola Valley.
His loved ones speak of a man whose identity was wrapped up in caring for livestock, working long days in difficult conditions, and living what he considered a dream as a cowboy.
On January 26, 2019, Ben was last seen at Nicola Ranch, where he had been working as manager. He reportedly left the ranch on horseback that afternoon, possibly to check on cattle in the surrounding hills near Merritt. Two days later, alarm grew when his saddled horse was discovered wandering alone on a logging road off Highway 97C near an area known as Winnie Flats, northwest of Merritt. The horse was fully tacked but riderless, an immediate red flag in the ranching community, where a loose working horse usually signals that something has gone very wrong.
Investigators later confirmed that the horse, named Gunny, appeared nervous but uninjured, and one of the reins was broken. At the same time, other troubling details emerged: Ben had not told anyone he was going away, he left behind his wallet and cellphone, and even his beloved dog, Sioux, remained at the ranch. For someone whose life revolved around animals and responsibility, leaving suddenly without his dog or his basic personal items appeared deeply out of character, increasing fears that his disappearance was not voluntary.
In the days that followed, an extensive search effort unfolded across the rugged backcountry north of Merritt. RCMP, local search and rescue teams, air services, police dogs, and numerous volunteers on horseback, on foot, in vehicles, and on snowmobiles combed the wilderness around where Gunny had been found. After nearly a week of intensive searching in harsh winter conditions, no trace of Ben was located, and the physical search was reluctantly suspended. The absence of footprints, discarded equipment, or any clear trail only deepened the mystery and the worry felt by those who knew him.
As the search shifted into a longer-term investigation, the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit joined the case, and the tone of official updates changed. In February 2019, police appealed for dash-cam footage from drivers who had been in the Highway 97C and Winnie Flats area around the time Ben vanished, hoping that even a small detail caught on video might offer a lead. By March 2019, after reviewing available evidence, RCMP publicly stated that the circumstances of his disappearance were suspicious and that they believed criminality might be involved.
On the second anniversary of Ben’s disappearance, January 26, 2021, RCMP went further, announcing that they believed he was likely the victim of homicide. Investigators emphasized that the case remained active and was being led by the Major Crime Unit, but they released few specifics, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation. Despite years of work, no remains have been found, and no publicly announced arrests or charges have resolved what happened to him.
Throughout this time, Ben’s family has carried an immense burden of grief and uncertainty. They traveled from Wyoming to Merritt shortly after he vanished, standing before cameras alongside RCMP to plead tearfully for information and describing the shock of being forced to leave town without answers. In later video and written appeals, his parents and brother have spoken of “horrendous heartache” and many sleepless nights, balanced only by a fragile hope that someone will eventually come forward with the truth. Their words paint a picture not only of a missing cowboy, but of a son and brother whose absence has left a profound silence at the center of their lives.
In an effort to encourage witnesses to speak up, Ben’s family initially offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to his location and to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. In March 2021, John Liu, the owner of Nicola Ranch, matched that amount, raising the total reward to $30,000, a gesture that reflected both the community’s affection for Ben and its shared desire for justice. Appeals have been amplified by media coverage and by organizations such as Crime Stoppers, but the crucial piece of information needed to solve the case has not yet surfaced.
Even years later, Ben Tyner’s disappearance remains one of the Nicola Valley’s most haunting unsolved cases. Local reporting continues to include his name among the missing whose stories cast a long shadow over the region, a reminder of families still waiting for answers. The combination of an experienced cowboy, a frightened riderless horse, and a sudden, unexplained absence has left friends, family, and the broader community with enduring questions and a deep sense of sorrow. Behind every police update and news article lies a grieving family who has never stopped loving him or hoping for the day when the mystery of what happened in late January 2019 is finally brought into the light.Last Seen: Jan 26, 2019
