Search may resume for missing Vancouver hiker
Vancouver police say the search for Jordan Naterer, believed to be missing on a hike in Manning Park, may resume Thursday.
“The only information I have at this time is that, due to a safe weather window, we are tentatively planning to use a drone today to re-search specific areas that have already been searched,” said Const. Tania Visintin, a spokesperson for the Vancouver police, early Thursday morning.
She said the VPD is waiting to confirm the availability of the search expert.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in on the search for the missing software developer, saying he would see if there was anything he could do, according to a report by the CBC. Trudeau said he understands what it felt like when the search was called off for his brother Michel, who was killed by an avalanche in B.C.’s backcountry in 1998.
Naterer was last seen Oct. 10 at 7 a.m., leaving his downtown Vancouver apartment, according to the Vancouver police.
His black 2016 Honda Civic was located at the Frosty Mountain Trailhead by the Lightning Lake Day Use area.
He is described by police as white with fair skin, five feet 10 inches tall, has a slim build, and has short brown hair. He was last seen wearing black pants and white running shoes. He was carrying a large green backpack.
Naterer was expected to be at a Thanksgiving dinner but did not attend. Those close to him are deeply concerned as his absence is out of character.
According to a petition to have the search resumed, Naterer is a recent graduate from University of British Columbia.
He had recently told his sister and some friends in Vancouver that he had planned to do a solo hike over the weekend, but he didn’t leave a trip plan.
On Oct. 17, the family was informed by the Vancouver police department and search and rescue team that they have exhausted all avenues for searching and have made the difficult decision to suspend the search, according to the petition.
Early in the search, crews found a bag that authorities didn’t think belonged to Naterer. But then on Oct. 18, Jordan’s mother Josie identified the contents of the bag as belonging to her son.
The family has appealed to police and search and rescue teams to resume the search.
On Wednesday, during a virtual town hall meeting for Memorial University in Newfoundland and Labrador, a colleague of Naterer’s father, Greg, who is the dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the university, asked the prime minister if there was anything he could do to get the search going again, according to a report by the CBC.
Trudeau said he understands on a personal level because of what happened to his brother and has compassion, but said he would have little influence, even as a prime minister, for a local undertaking, the CBC reported.
“But I can certainly ask about it and try to see if there isn’t something that I can nudge a little bit,” Trudeau said.