East Sooke woman still missing
On the night of Thursday, January 2, Sooke RCMP received a missing person call. A 59-yrear-old woman later identified by her first name, Robin, was last seen by her husband at home earlier that afternoon. He became concerned when she had not returned home by 5:30 that night, and after locating her car at a parking lot in the East Sooke park, initiated a private search. The woman is known to be familiar with East Sooke Park.
The Sooke RCMP were notified at 9:00 p.m., and a search was initiated by 11:00 that night.
Hundreds of trained Search and Rescue volunteers came from throughout the region to assist with the search, coming from Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Duncan, Saltspring and the Lower Mainland. Searches were conducted throughout the park, in the water, and also by air.
The search was suspended by the Sooke RCMP on 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 5.
There was some media mention of a found pack of cigarettes and some footprints, both of which were pursued by the Search and Rescue volunteers. The footprints were unrelated, and the area in which the pack of cigarettes were found was exhaustively searched with no results.
According to the RCMP, the Juan de Fuca Search and Rescue will be conducting search exercises at the park, thereby informally continuing the search efforts for the missing woman.
Anyone with information can call the Sooke detachment at 250-642-5241.
The family has requested her full name not be released.
Staff Sergeant Steve Wright transfers to Westshore
In the next few months, Sooke will be loosing Staff Sergeant Steve Wright to the Westshore detachment, where he will take up a new role as their Operations Commander. His replacement will be coming from Prince George. Once the transfer becomes official, we will be providing his name to our readers.
Wright will continue to live in Sooke, and will also continue his volunteer work with the local Lions Club. Wright has worked with the RCMP for 33 years, and started in Sooke on December 1, 2009.