Iwaasa not located during search; case to remain open and ongoing

By Lethbridge Herald on July 15, 2020.

Lethbridge Police continue to investigate the disappearance of Marshal Iwaasa and say the file will remain open – with a dedicated investigator – until he is found.

Lethbridge Police Service release:

Lethbridge Police continue to investigate the disappearance of Marshal Iwaasa and the file will remain open – with a dedicated investigator – until he is found.

Late last month an exhaustive search of the mountainous B.C. terrain where Iwaasa’s burned out truck was found in November 2019, was conducted by police and civilian search and rescue personnel. Iwaasa was not located during the search. 

Iwaasa, who was 26-years-old at the time he was reported missing, was last seen by relatives in Lethbridge on Nov. 17, 2019. He told family he was returning to Calgary but hasn’t been seen or heard from since. He was reported missing on Nov. 25, 2019. Iwaasa’s disappearance is considered suspicious, however there is no credible, corroborated or compelling information at this time to suggest foul play or that the matter is criminal in nature. Throughout the investigation officers have continued to monitor Iwaasa’s personal affairs including potential personal contacts as well as social media, phone, medical and financial activity. Since Iwaasa’s disappearance there have been no footprints of life.

On June 24, 2020 LPS, members of the Pemberton RCMP and surrounding detachments – 12 police officers in total – and 15 Search and Rescue personnel from Pemberton and Squamish, were involved in a comprehensive ground search of areas that were not previously covered during past search efforts in November/December 2019. Members of the Canadian Search and Disaster Dog Association were also on scene and conducted an independent search. In addition to the search efforts, an RCMP fire investigator examined and processed Iwaasa’s burned out truck. LPS is currently awaiting the fire investigator’s report.

The surrounding area where Iwaasa’s truck was located has been extensively searched on multiple occasions and no further searches are planned at this time.

Iwaasa has been listed as missing with the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains (NCMPUR) and his DNA and dental records are on file to aid in identification if remains are later located. Investigators are currently conducting interviews with several individuals who may have information that could shed light on Iwaasa’s disappearance, continue to check various databases and will follow-up on any new information.

To date police have looked into and checked all available avenues and known sources of information to determine Iwaasa’s movements including CCTV footage from businesses, highway traffic monitoring images, national park/gate camera footage and made requests for dash cam footage from members of the public. At this time there is no known CCTV footage of Iwaasa or his vehicle after he went missing.

Once the identified investigative tasks have been completed, if no new information comes to light, the missing persons file will remain open with a dedicated investigator until Iwaasa is found or the case is solved. Any and all new evidence or leads will be pursued as they are received.

Anyone with information about Marshal Iwaasa is asked to come forward. LPS has jurisdiction of the investigation and can be reached by calling 403-328-4444. To remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at http://www.p3tips.com.

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