Police Obtain New Information in the Disappearance of Lisa Marie Young

Police in Nanaimo, British Columbia, have received new tips and information about the 2002 disappearance of Lisa Marie Young, which are considered to be “credible and important” to their investigation.

Young, a missing indigenous woman, was last seen on June 30, 2002, after going to a few house parties in Nanaimo with friends. There have been no arrests made in connection to her disappearance. Police believe she is deceased due to foul play.

The lead investigator, Cpl. Markus Muntener has stated that new witnesses have come forward recently that “A lot of those people may not have been comfortable doing that early on in this investigation, but through the course of time and changes in their circumstances they’ve come forward to do that.”

During a statement on the front steps of the Nanaimo RCMP detachment, Cpl. Muntener stated that those who are coming forward “aren’t enthusiastic.” He re-emphasized that the smallest of details could help move the investigation forward.

He has said that ground-penetrating radar has been used, along with dedicated search teams and police dogs have been used. The large scale investigation involves hundreds of witnesses and over 15,000 documents.

More than 100 people went to an annual justice march for Young on June 26, 2021 from RCMP Nanaimo to Maffeo Sutton Park. The event raises awareness for Young and other missing and murdered indigenous women. Community members made statements and indigenous performers took to the Lions Pavilion stage.

For more information on Lisa’s case, we invite you to listen to our podcast episode on her case, on Buzzsprout, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere else podcasts are listened to.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons