The search for a missing local cowboy has been suspended, but the investigation into Ben Tyner’s disappearance is set to continue.

After seven days of combing the Nicola Valley, local police requested support from the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit (SED MCU) in the investigation of 32-year-old Tyner.

“While the official search was suspended on Sunday after seven days of searching, the investigation is not over,” Merritt RCMP Staff. Sgt. Lorne Wood said in a news release. “We are thankful to have the expertise and resources available from the SED MCU, to assist us as the investigation transitions from a short term search effort.”

Tyner was reported missing to the Merritt RCMP on Jan. 28, after a local hunter found his riderless horse in the backcountry.

Following his disappearance, more than a dozen search and rescue teams, RCMP, and volunteers on foot, horseback, wheels and in helicopters scoured the region, but there’s still no sign of the rancher.

The experience has been “heartbreaking” for the entire family, said Jared Dorn, Tyner’s cousin-in-law, who said the family is still formulating plans on how to proceed.

“I believe that keeping Ben and his situation in peoples’ hearts and minds is the best chance we have of finding him.” – Jared Dorn

“There are a lot of things that do not make sense about the entire situation, but I am not in the position to characterize it as suspicious,” Dorn said. “I believe that keeping Ben and his situation in peoples’ hearts and minds is the best chance we have of finding him.”

Dorn created a GoFundMe page on Friday to aid in the search for Tyner, which had raised $23,915 by 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, almost $4,000 more than the $20,000 goal.

He told the Herald the family plans to use the funds to help volunteer organizations in the search for Tyner, as well as missing person billboards and posters.

“Our next step with the Tyner situation is just to re-examine where we have been, where we weren’t where the other possibilities may be and come up with a new action plan,” said Sgt. Norm Flemming “I suppose we can always hold out a measure of hope that he is injured but alive — I’d say the odds of that become a little longer every day.”

“There is nothing worse than spending the rest of your life wondering what happened.” – RCMP Sgt. Norm Flemming

Considering the deep freeze settling in over the Nicola Valley and the length of time Tyner has been missing, Flemming said he has his concerns.

“My hope — for the sake of the family, his friends and everybody — is that in the next very short while we find where he is, what happened to him,” he said. “There is nothing worse than spending the rest of your life wondering what happened.”

RCMP advise that residents may see an increase in police presence throughout Merritt and surrounding area, in support of the ongoing investigation.

Anyone who has information about Tyner’s disappearance is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.