After six days of actively searching for missing man Nicholas Marion, Cowichan Search and Rescue has suspended its efforts.
Nicholas Marion, age 38, went missing after leaving a friend’s home in Youbou on Sunday morning at around 6:30 am. Police said he is not familiar with the area, as he was just visiting for the long weekend. The last confirmed sighting of Marion was July 1.
The RCMP told NowMedia that the search is suspended until new information is received regarding Marion’s possible whereabouts.
The investigation will remain open until he is found, added an RCMP spokesperson. Despite the official search being called off, Marion’s family has not given up yet.
In an update on social media, his wife Dory LaFrance, wrote that they will re-organize and re-strategize. Part of that effort includes a GoFundMe to allow LaFrance to keep looking and to hire private resources like search dogs.
According to family members, SAR started their search on Sunday evening. They have used various tools to try and locate Marion, including dogs, drones, boats, thermal and ground searches.
Civilian volunteers have also been trying to hike around the area in search of him, using GPS tools to track their routes.
“I’m scared and desperate to find my sweet beautiful husband. Overwhelmed with the immense amount of support from the RCMP, SAR teams from all over and the friends and family and strangers who worked so hard to cover such a large amount of area to find my husband and bring him home safely,” wrote LaFrance in an update this week.
