The search for an 82-year-old woman missing in the Lower Mainland has been suspended until the summer, with her family saying in a statement that they believe she is likely deceased.
Jane Whitehouse was last seen leaving her home in Langley Township’s Aldergrove community around 10 a.m. on Oct. 25.
Her grey Dodge Grand Caravan was found along East Harrison Forest Service Road near Kent two days later.
Ground crews searched the area around the vehicle for 72 hours, but didn’t find the senior. Now two weeks later, RCMP say they have called off the search until summer. Their overall investigation will continue.
“We are still seeking anyone with video surveillance or information, no matter how ‘big’ or ‘small,’ to please come forward,” Cpl. Craig van Herk said in an emailed statement Friday.
Van Herk said police are still hoping to speak to the driver of a white Mercedes SUV that was seen in surveillance video passing Whitehouse’s vehicle before she went missing, in case that person has any information that can help in their case.
A white Mercedes SUV is seen on surveillance tape heading in the opposite direction of Whitehouse’s van on Oct. 25. (Provided by Langley RCMP)
Melanie Sora, a spokesperson for the family, provided a written update on social media earlier in the week informing people of the decision to call off the search.
“Over 1,000 hours of manpower,” had gone into the search, she said in her post. “Helicopters, drones with FLIR (forward looking infrared) and search dogs were deployed. SAR went over every possible route Jane could have traveled and covered many kilometres.”
Sora said no heat signatures or scents were picked up and that, along with the fact that one of Whitehouse’s shoes was found near the van and the other on a steep precipice, had led investigators, and the family, to the conclusion that she had “most likely slipped into the swollen waters of the creek.”
“The chance of her surviving into icy waters is pretty much non-existent,” Sora wrote, adding that with snow setting in, “it’s now too dangerous to try to locate her.”
Police said Whitehouse’s green jacket confirmed she was driving her vehicle along Hicks Lake Road on October. 25 at approximately 4:10 pm. (Provided by Langley RCMP)
“The family is at peace with where things are now and with the recovery efforts slated to resume in the summer, we don’t want to see anyone injured or worse in attempts to find Jane,” she wrote.
“If anyone is in the area, though, and they do see something unusual or of curiosity, please report it to the RCMP and do not touch anything.”
Sora’s statement thanks everyone who was involved with the search, and all those who offered words of support.