Maple Creek man still missing
Last week, in recognition of the 11th annual Missing Persons Week, Saskatchewan RCMP honoured the thousands of people who go missing in Saskatchewan each year. The theme of this year’s commemorative week was “Stories not Statistics” and aimed to share the stories behind those people who go missing and the investigations that take place to help bring them home.
In 2023, 2533 individuals were reported missing to detachments in Saskatchewan RCMP jurisdiction. No two missing persons case are the same and each investigation that takes place is treated as uniquely as the missing person themselves. Though all investigations have their own story, the desired outcome remains the same: bringing missing persons home to their families. Of the 550 missing males, 450 missing females and 1150 youths reported missing in 2023, Byron Watson of Maple Creek remains missing.
Here is Byron’s story: On December 1st 2023, Maple Creek RCMP received a report of a missing 23-year-old man, Byron Watson.
Byron Watson was last seen Sunday November 26th 2023 in Maple Creek Saskatchewan on Lonsdale Street. Since he was reported missing, Maple Creek RCMP have been checking places Byron Watson is known to visit and following up on information received. They are now asking members of the public to report information on Byron Watson's whereabouts.
Investigators are asking anyone in Maple Creek who has surveillance video footage from November 26, 2023 from the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and who has not previously provided it to Maple Creek RCMP, to contact them.
Byron Watson is described as 5'8", 175 lbs. He has brown eyes and black hair.
Once an initial report is made, Saskatchewan RCMP investigators are able bring in a number of highly-trained resources to assist as necessary. This includes: police dog services, remotely piloted aerial vehicles, the search and rescue unit and more. As Saskatchewan’s provincial police force, the Saskatchewan RCMP has a number of province-wide investigational tools that can be activated during a missing persons search. As each missing person investigation is different, the resources used in each case is as well.
“There are many different circumstances that can lead to a missing persons report being made” says Cst. Brendan Sanford, Saskatchewan RCMP missing persons coordinator. “Those circumstances decide which of the Saskatchewan RCMP’s internal and partner resources are activated. However, the goal always remains the same, to bring Saskatchewan’s missing home.”
If you think you may know something, say something. Even if you think it may be insignificant, any piece of information may be what leads investigators to finding the answers they need to locate someone. You can report information to your local police or information anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.