Ryan Shtuka's family renews plea for information, one year after disappearance

Scott and Heather Shtuka. (via Eric Thompson)

Ryan Shtuka's parents have made another public plea for information.

Heather and Scott were in Kamloops today (Feb. 15) for a press conference marking the one-year anniversary of their son's disappearance.

Ryan Shtuka. (via Facebook)

Ryan was last seen at a Sun Peaks house party during the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Police say the then-20-year-old came home from work on Friday (he worked at the ski resort), and "prepared for an evening with friends." 

He went to a local bar that evening, and then attended a house party on Burfield Drive.

"We received what would have been a text of every parent's worst nightmare," says Heather of learning her son was nowhere to be found. 

Heather recalls driving up from their hometown of Beaumont, Alta. to help with the search.

"I remember begging and pleading, 'Please whatever happens, whatever this is, if you can spare our son.'

When they arrived at Sun Peaks, reality set in.

"We looked and we saw the vast amounts of snow, we saw the vast terrain we had to search, and search in sub-zero temperatures… I think we came to the realization that finding Ryan would have been miraculous at best," says Heather.

The initial search for Ryan involved Kamloops Search and Rescue, police dog services, the RCMP's helicopter, the RCMP tactical team, a dive team and hundreds of volunteers (family, friends and complete strangers).

Mounties continue to actively investigate the case, including every tip the detachment receives, according to Cpl. Jodi Shelkie.

"Our hope with this media availability is that...perhaps it will jog somebody's memory, perhaps somebody was in Sun Peaks a year ago." 

Cpl. Jodi Shelkie. (via Eric Thompson)

Insp. Syd Lecky says the investigation needs the public's help.

"Somebody knows something. We need people to come forward. We do need you to step up and do what you can to contribute to this investigation and to bring some comfort to the family," he says.

For now, Heather and Scott say they'll continue to travel once a month to Sun Peaks to search for their son.

"We will until we’ve decided that we can’t do it anymore...We’re not giving up."

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kamloops RCMP detachment at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.