Call to reopen search for missing paramedic comes after hiker survives 50 days in northeast B.C. woods

The story of a man who survived 50 days in northeastern B.C.’s backcountry has reignited interest in the search for a second man who was reported missing the same weekend in a different part of B.C.’s Peace region.

Jim Barnes, 29, was last seen on Oct. 18 when he took his golden retriever, Murphy, out to an area near Groundbirch Forest Service Road, southeast of Chetwynd, B.C., and about 60 kilometres southwest of Fort St. John. He was reported missing on Oct. 19 after he failed to return home — the same day that 20-year-old Sam Benastick was reported missing in the Redfern-Keily Provincial Park, about 250 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

The official searches for both men were also called off around the same time, with the search for Barnes suspended by Oct. 25 and the search for Benastick ended by Oct. 28. However, with Benastick being found earlier this week, there are now calls to reopen the official search for Barnes in the hopes that he too may still be found before winter fully sets in.

“Sam’s case kind of reignited this hope that I think some of us might have lost,” said Jahaziel Trudell, who started an online petition calling for the search to be reopened.

Trudell, a first responder herself, became aware of Barnes’s case while working as an industrial medic in the Fort St. John area. She felt drawn to the case after discovering he was a paramedic. “I just really want to work on getting resources and more access to reopen Jim’s case.”

According to RCMP, the file for Barnes’s disappearance is still open, and they will continue to follow any leads that are found. As for the request to reopen the search, North District RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Madonna Saunderson said they would follow up with Chetwynd RCMP for more information about Barnes’s case.

Chris Mushumanski, president of the B.C. Search and Rescue Association, stated that in the case of missing people, it is up to RCMP to request SAR crews. “They are the ultimate authority in terms of deciding what tools are used,” he said.

Barnes’s partner, Micaela Sawyer, expressed her gratitude for the renewed attention to Barnes’s case. She hopes that locals will keep their eyes and ears open for any sign of him. Sawyer described Barnes as an experienced outdoorsman who is familiar with the area he went missing from. She reported him missing after he failed to return home for his work shift on Oct. 18.

With temperatures dropping, Trudell emphasized the importance of getting more people looking for Barnes. “We still want answers,” she said. “We want to be able to give his friends and family the closure that they need.”

The search for Jim Barnes continues as his loved ones and community members hope for his safe return.