A father called his mother to share good news about a job. Neither he, his wife, nor their two young sons were ever heard from again.
Ronald and Doreen Jack, along with their sons Russell, 9, and Ryan, 4, disappeared from the Prince George, British Columbia area in August 1989. More than three decades later, the family has never been found.
A Promising Opportunity
On August 2, 1989, Ronald called his mother in Burns Lake to say he and Doreen had landed jobs at a logging camp. He explained he'd met a man at a local pub who told him about the openings, and that the family would need to leave right away to take the opportunity. He said the camp, located past Bednesti in the Cluculz Lake region, had on-site daycare, so they planned to bring their sons along, expecting to return in time for Russell to start school that September. It was the last anyone heard from any of them.
A Description That Went Nowhere
A witness who saw Ronald with the man at the pub described him as a tall, heavyset Caucasian man in his 30s or 40s, with red hair, a mustache and beard, wearing a plaid shirt and a waist-length nylon coat. Some who've followed the case over the years have noted the description bears a resemblance to a relative of a man later connected to an unrelated, notorious BC criminal case, though this has never been confirmed or substantiated by investigators, and no one has ever been identified, charged, or named as a suspect in the Jack family's disappearance.
An Anonymous Tip
In January 1996, more than six years after the family vanished, RCMP received an anonymous call claiming the family had been murdered and buried on a farm. The call was muffled and difficult to understand, and despite efforts to enhance the audio, investigators couldn't determine the exact property being referenced. Police believed the caller mentioned a location known locally as "Gordie's Ranch" and searched a property matching that name, but found no evidence connected to the family. The call was traced to a home in the Stoney Creek area where a party had taken place the night before; RCMP interviewed attendees but were never able to identify the caller.
Still Unsolved
The disappearance of the Jack family remains unresolved. No trace of Ronald, Doreen, Russell, or Ryan has ever been found.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Jack family ever been found?
No. Ronald, Doreen, Russell, and Ryan Jack have never been located, and the case remains unsolved.
Was the anonymous 1996 tip ever verified?
No. Despite an RCMP search of a property matching the location described, no evidence was found, and the caller was never identified.
Has anyone ever been named a suspect?
No. Despite theories circulating over the years, no one has ever been formally identified, charged, or named as a suspect in the case.