Mounties renew appeal for information in B.C. missing hiker cases

Gurdeep 'Gordon' Sagoo, Timothy Delahaye, Kristofer Couture and Valentina Kushnareva are shown in this composite image created from photos provided by the RCMP.

Since 2016, four people who set off into the backcountry near Chilliwack, B.C., have never returned, according to authorities, who issued a renewed appeal for information in the missing persons cases Thursday.

Local Mounties are asking people to be on the lookout for anything that could help advance the investigations into the disappearances while out hiking, biking, off-roading or otherwise exploring the areas where the people were last seen.

“Police are requesting assistance and information from anyone who has spent time in the backcountry areas in the past few years who may have located personal items such as clothing and equipment which could provide information as to the whereabouts of any of these missing persons,” a statement from the Chilliwack RCMP said.

Photos of the missing people and information on their last known whereabouts were also provided.

Gurdeep Gordon Sagoo, 50, was last seen Aug. 14, 2016, when he became separated from a group while hiking at Baby Munday Mountain off the Foley Creek Service Road.

On May 14, 2019, Timothy Delahaye – described by police as an “experienced outdoorsman” – started his hike on Frost Road, with plans to attend a retreat across the border in Maple Falls, Wash. He never arrived, and police say he was equipped with “a lot of gear.”

Three days later, 25-year-old Kristofer Couture was reported missing after his vehicle was found at the entrance to the Elk View Trail. Authorities say they do not know when he parked there, or what he had with him when he departed.

Valentina Kushnareva, 80, set out to go mushroom picking on Oct. 3, 2019, never to be seen again, according to police. She entered the backcountry from the 43000 block of Frost Road

Anyone who has come across items that may belong to one of the missing people, or who finds something in the future, is urged to report it by emailing details to [e-mail].

Mounties ask for the following information to be included, if possible:

• A description of the item that was found;
• If you believe the item may be associated to one of these missing people;
• The specific location where the item was found. GPS coordinates preferred but a location on a map will suffice;
• When the item was found;
• What you did with the item (left in place or took it with you);
• Name;
• Phone number;
• Address (optional).