New statement posted from Lethbridge police on Facebook
Lethbridge Police Service
Marshal Iwaasa investigation ongoing; plans being finalized for exhaustive search
“Lethbridge Police continue to investigate the disappearance of a 26-year-old Calgary man and are working with B.C. RCMP to plan an exhaustive search of the remote and mountainous area where his burned out vehicle was found last November.
Search efforts were suspended over the winter months but as a result of the ongoing snow melt, a preliminary search was initially conducted by Pemberton RCMP last month. The May search did not yield any new results and an exhaustive search of the terrain will be scheduled as soon as possible......
.......From the onset of this investigation Iwaasa’s disappearance has been considered suspicious, however there is no credible, corroborated or compelling information to suggest foul play or that the occurrence is criminal in nature.
The investigation has determined that prior to his disappearance Iwaasa had hidden the fact that he had stopped attending post-secondary classes. In examining Iwaasa’s personal affairs in the months leading up to his disappearance – including interviews with close friends as well as his financial, medical and social media activity – there is evidence to suggest he was experiencing stress in his life and had become withdrawn......
.......When the vehicle was located and the scene examined there was no evidence to suggest a criminal offence had been committed and no evidence to suggest that anyone other than Iwaasa was present when the vehicle was burned. It has not been conclusively determined if the vehicle was burned intentionally or as a result of an accident.
Some of Iwaasa’s clothing was found in a trail leading away from the vehicle into the forest. Investigators are aware there is a discrepancy between photos taken by the original hikers who located the scene and called police and RCMP photos taken when officers arrived some time later. It is possible other backcountry users encountered the items prior to RCMP arrival, and police are asking anyone who may have happened across the scene and inadvertently disturbed the items, to come forward.
All evidence that has been seized has been forensically processed, where possible, including all available electronics. The electronics that could be examined contained information linking them to Iwaasa. Several devices were old and did not contain current or recent data. In addition, fingerprinting has been conducted with no usable prints developed from the processed evidence.
All evidence is being retained for potential DNA testing. The evidence cannot be DNA tested by the RCMP crime lab unless officers have reasonable grounds to believe a DNA-designated criminal offence has been committed. At this time no such evidence or grounds exist. If a private lab were to conduct DNA testing immediately, the items may not be accepted by the RCMP lab for processing in future and any evidence recovered may not be admissible in court.
Iwaasa’s burned out truck remains in situ due to the extremely challenging remote terrain where it was found. Due to the winter conditions when the vehicle was first located and now a rock slide blocking the access road, it is physically impossible to have a tow truck access and remove the truck at this time. Upon being located, the truck was examined at the scene.
The vast majority of the information learned during the investigation to date, has been shared with Iwaasa’s family, however not all relevant and pertinent information has been shared with the public or on social media forums. The investigator’s report contains additional details and insights into the circumstances, scene and evidence which has not and will not be shared in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.....
......As the investigation continues, and plans for an exhaustive search of the mountain terrain are finalized, any additional information about Iwaasa’s disappearance that comes to light will be investigated. Police continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.”
