James Barnes missing person investigation remains active

Chetwynd, Missing Person

2025-01-29 16:05 PST

File # 2024-1987

Chetwynd RCMP continue the investigation into the disappearance of James Barnes and look to the public in efforts to further the investigation. Original Release 2024-10-22

James Barnes was reported missing to Fort St John RCMP on October 18, 2024 at 10:58 p.m. when he failed to return home from a hunting trip earlier that day. On Saturday, October 19, 2024 Chetwynd RCMP were notified as there was reason to believe James may have been in the Chetwynd area. James had left home in his pickup with his dog Murphy, a golden retriever. The truck was later found but James and Murphy were not with the truck.

A golden retriever, similar in appearance to Murphy, was found in the Halfway River area near Fort St. John. Through DNA testing it was determined that this dog was not Murphy.

James Joseph Edmund Barnes is described as:

• Caucasian male
• 28 years old
• 5’ 11 (180 cm)
• 201 lbs (91 kg)
• Brown hair
• Brown eyes
• Big moustache
• Last seen wearing a green/blue TC Energy ball cap, green or blue hoodie and jeans.
• Murphy is an 18-month-old male golden retriever with no collar.
• The RCMP are still looking for anyone in the public that might have seen James, his truck or Murphy on October 18th, the day he was last seen or was in the Groundbirch area on road 269 road from Highway 97S and the Groundbirch Forest Service Road.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of James Barnes and Murphy, or saw them and the vehicle back in October, you are asked to call Chetwynd RCMP at 250-788-9221.

Released by:

Email: madonna.saunderson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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