UPDATE: Fort Nelson First Nation search party changes location, seeks volunteers

Update (8:19 p.m., July 20th): This story has been updated to announce the change in location for the search party

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) has announced it is seeking volunteers for a search party to locate a missing local woman.

FNFN says the search party will begin on Sunday morning. While it was initially announced the search party will be concentrating on the Prophet River area, A Facebook post on July 20th confirmed the location the search will concentrate around a 30 kilometre radius of the Fort Nelson area.

Volunteers are asked to prepare for hot weather and tough terrain conditions, including pants and long-sleeved clothing, hiking shoes, a hat, water and food to last all day, bear spray, insect repellent and sunscreen. 

Karen Tessier, 57, was last seen in the town on July 9th. 

The Northern Rockies RCMP discovered her minivan five days later, on July 14th, abandoned.

An appeal by Northern BC RCMP’s major crimes unit earlier this week urged the public to disclose information about Tessier.

“Investigators believe members of the public have information about her disappearance,” said the major crimes unit on Wednesday, July 17th. 

She is described as an Indigenous female, standing 5 feet 5 inches tall (163 cm), weighing 177 pounds (80 kg) with brown hair and brown eyes. 

The search party will begin at 8:00 a.m. on July 21st at FNFN’s administrative offices, located at 2026 Kennay-yah Road in Fort Nelson. 
Further details about the search party can be found on FNFN’s Facebook page.