Marshal Iwaasa's family still seeks answers five years after his disappearance

The Find Marshal Iwaasa Facebook group now has over 16,000 members. Five years after he disappeared, his family continues its search. The Lethbridge police says it investigated a half dozen tips over the past year but none was substantiated.

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. — On Nov. 17, 2019, 26-year-old Marshal Iwaasa left his mother's home in Lethbridge and told his family he was driving to Calgary.

That was the last time they ever saw or heard from him.

Five years later, his disappearance still weighs heavily on his family.

“Coming up on five years has led a lot of us in our family just to kind of sit back and reflect, I guess, on where we've come so far," said Paige Fogen, Marshal’s sister.

"It's hard to think that it's been five years since we've since anyone has seen my brother."

A few days later, on Nov. 23, his truck was found abandoned and burned in a remote area north of Pemberton B.C.

His family says he had no plans to go there and wasn't familiar with the area.

An investigation determined the cause of the fire was arson.

Despite an extensive investigation, Iwaasa's family is left with more questions than answers.

“It's still as hard as it was when this first started, because we don't know anything more than we did back when Marshall first went missing," said Marshal's mother Tammy Johnson.

"So that is really heart wrenching, for sure."

International attention

Marshal's disappearance attracted attention across Canada and internationally.

The Find Marshal Iwaasa Facebook group now has over 16,000 members.

The family is overwhelmed with the support they've received.

Johnson said people are still asking for posters and bumper stickers to help get the word out.

"That helps us to stay strong and helps us to hold on to hope. And really all we have at this point is hope.”

Ongoing police investigation

The Lethbridge Police Service still have an ongoing investigation into the disappearance.

So far this year, police have investigated about a half-dozen tips from the public but none were substantiated.

Marshal's family is hopeful one day someone will come forward with information that will crack the case.

“I always hold out hope that we will find some answers, whatever that may be. I think any answer at this point would be better than never knowing what happened,” said Fogen.

Anyone with information about the investigation are asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.