EP 45: The Search for Tom Leonard

Steve and Kyle welcome Tammy Leonard, the spouse of missing hunter Tom Leonard and Joey Prevost from Terrace Search and Rescue to the show. 16 years ago, in 2005, Tom Leonard failed to return home from a solo sheep hunt in Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Provincial Park. An initial 4 day search was conducted but was not successful and was called off due to bad weather.

The following year in 2006 family members, friends and complete strangers (first responders, guide outfitters, conservation officers) conducted a week long search for Tom unfortunately, nothing was found.

Not giving up in 2007 and again in 2008 family members went to Spatsizi and searched specific areas of the park which again failed to produce any answers.

In 2013 a hunter discovered a camp that met the description of Tom's tent however the hunter did not connect this camp to being Tom's until 2019 when he saw Tom' story on social media. RCMP were contacted about this camp unfortunately, due to being late in the season they had to wait until the following year to investigate.

In 2020 the RCMP was not able to conduct the search due to the road being washed out to the trail head as well as due to COVID the helicopter was unavailable.

In 2021 the RCMP had asked BC Parks to investigate this camp however due to staffing shortage they were not able to go. Terrace Search and Rescue championed the effort. Joey Prevost from Terrace SAR talks us through the search in 2021 and what they discovered.

This is a heart wrenching story that will leave you in tears.

To support the search for Tom Leonard visit: www.gofundme.com/f/Help-Search-Rescue-end-16-year-search-for-Tom