P.I. Has Theories on Highway 16 Disappearances and Deaths
By Jan Baker
The release of the draft report from the Symposium on the Highway of Tears is still two weeks away, but a Private Invesigator out of the lower mainland says families of those who have been murdered or went missing on Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George will soon be briefed before the report is made public.
Former RCMP officer Ray Milchako is a private investigator and owns Valley Pacific Investigations in Surrey.
He was so intrigued when he heard about the "Highway of Tears" that he put together a few theories, and decided to run a pro bono investigation.
Milchako speculated “there are a lot of people missing over a small stretch of highway. It is unlikely that such a large number of victims were killed by different people, and it does seem that one or two of the disappearances may be related.”
He ran an advertisement with media in Smithers and Terrace, and received about 50 phone calls and emails with tips and leads on the disappearances of women along Highway 16. Some of the people he talked to say they had tried to pass their tips to the RCMP but believe their information was dismissed. Milchako has passed all the information over to the RCMP.
Milchako has visited the region, stopping in Prince George, Smithers, Terrace, and Houston, following up on the tips he had received.
He is still getting tips. He believes “some people may know things and not be comfortable contacting the police for various reasons, but these people may be comfortable calling a Private Investigator.” He also speculates that “people may know something, but think it isn’t important enough to bother the RMCP with.” Milchako says all information is important, and requests that people contact him or the RCMP.
The disappearances and deaths are part of a special review being conducted by the RCMP. The status of that review is not yet known.
Milchako has been in contact with some of the families of missing women, but is careful because he doesn’t want to give anyone false hope.
Because he is working the case pro bono, Milchako needs to limit the number of trips he makes to Northern BC, and was therefore unable to attend the Highway of Tears Symposium. It has been suggested to him that he start accepting donations to fund his investigation, and that is an idea that Milchako is going to be considering over the next few weeks.
Milchako has learned the RCMP will be holding a meeting with the family members of Highway of Tears victims in Prince George in mid-June, prior to the release of the draft report on the Highway of Tears symposium. That release is set for the 21st of June.
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Posted by: Chester on June 8 2006 8:11 PM
I expect numerous R C M P officers have explored these disappearances to no avail.
I trust an ex cop turned private investigator finds few cases so there would be limited compensation.
Perhaps donations will prove more rewarding.
It is my understanding the people in the north are big on donations.
I trust this investigator may have stumbled on a gold mine, but I'd rather put my money on a soothsayer. If he did not have the resources to make a trip from Surrey to Prince George for that Symposium, he will surely require numerous donations if he hopes to tour the west this summer.
Looks like kind of a "done deal" as he obviously considers himself as "working the case." And without being hired??? "Pro bono" will surely develop into "pro bonus." Nice move!!!