'I'm being a private investigator': Bernard Grempel's family searching for answers
It’s been three agonizing weeks since Bernard Grempel’s family has heard from him.
“This is so uncharacteristic. We're worried that he's hurt or he's scared or he's in danger somewhere,” said Ettie Shurack, Grempel’s sister.
Grempel, 28, was last heard from on May 14.
According to his bank card and transit pass activities, he went to a 7-Eleven at at 152 Street and 100 Avenue at 8:44 p.m. before boarding the SkyTrain at Surrey Central Station at 10:30 p.m.
He arrived at 22nd Street Station in New Westminster and boarded the 340 bus.
Shurack said that is typically the route he would take to visit their parents, and finding out where he got off transit should have been much easier.
“My parents, from the moment they reported him missing, they said to the RCMP that Bernard gets around by public transit and they said he has a monthly bus card. It took a long time for RCMP to confirm that information,” she said.
She accuses Surrey RCMP of being slow to act and consequently, security footage, which automatically erases itself after a week, is now gone.
“This investigation is a top priority right from the onset. We did receive the report on the 16th. Shortly after that, we took steps to obtain the Compass card information, it's a step-by step process,” said Cpl. Vanessa Munn with the Surrey RCMP.
Shurack said the family has also been doing a lot of police work themselves and then relaying the information to officers, such as looking at his Google Map account and bank activity and canvassing surveillance footage along the 340 bus route to Scottsdale Exchange.
“We're far from detectives, but it feels like I'm being a private investigator,” she said.
She said the family has also been advocating for search and rescue crews to lend a hand and was disheartened when police decided to first deploy a water rescue team.
“They said to us that their theory is that is that Bernard was at risk for self-harm,” Sharack said. “To say that someone who has mental health challenges is (akin to saying) they will commit suicide is very frustrating.”
Surrey RCMP said their officers have been actively investigating Grempel’s disappearance since the beginning and the B.C. RCMP’s Missing Persons Unit has also looked over the file to ensure all the proper steps have been taken.
“We investigate all possible investigative avenues. Some of the difficulty is that we don't know where he goes. So we don't have an exact location to start land searches,” Munn explained. “We've done fan out to multiple homeless shelters. Daily, we're sending out what's called a ‘Be on the Lookout’ to every police officer in the Lower Mainland so that everyone is aware and it's at the forefront of their mind every morning when they're starting their shift. Ultimately our goal is the same as the family: We want him to be reunited with his family and want to bring him home safe.”
Mounties are asking any with information on Grempel's whereabouts, and anyone who was on board the 340 bus at 11 p.m. on May 14, to contact them.
Grempel’s family is also now offering $20,000, double the original reward money, in hopes it will lead to information to bring him home safely.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
BREAKING Stranded orca calf swims out of B.C. lagoon where she was trapped for weeks
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.