MISSING: The Jack Family - 08/02/1989 - Prince George, B.C
Source: Canada Unsolved
The disappearance of the Jack family—Ronald, 26, Doreen, 26, and their two sons, Russell (9) and Ryan (4)—remains one of the most haunting mysteries in British Columbia's history.
The family vanished on August 2, 1989, from their home on Strathcona Avenue in Prince George after reportedly accepting a job offer at a remote logging camp. Over three decades later, their loved ones continue the search for answers.
Decades later, questions about their fate still haunt the community, raising concerns about systemic issues, particularly in missing Indigenous cases along the infamous "Highway of Tears."
Key Takeaways: Jack Family Disappearance
Last Seen: The Jack family left their home in a white pickup truck with an unidentified man who promised high-paying jobs and daycare for their children.
The Setting: Prince George, a northern hub surrounded by natural beauty but also home to economic challenges, served as the backdrop for the family’s final days.
Unanswered Questions: Who was the man offering the jobs? Why has no trace of the family been found despite extensive investigations?
Background of the Jack Family
Ronald and Doreen Jack, members of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, moved from Burns Lake to Prince George in search of better opportunities for their young family. Life had been challenging; Ronald, an unemployed woodcutter, was trying to provide for his family. The couple’s financial struggles were compounded by personal trauma—both had endured the effects of Canada’s residential school system, poverty, and abuse in their early lives.
Their move to Prince George was meant to offer a fresh start, but their optimism would tragically lead them into a situation that ended in their disappearance.
The Night They Disappeared
On August 1, 1989, Ronald met a man at a local bar. The stranger, described as a tall Caucasian man in his late 30s with reddish-brown hair and a full beard, offered Ronald and Doreen jobs at a logging camp near Cluculz Lake. He promised daycare facilities for their sons and immediate transport to the camp.
Early the next morning, Ronald called his mother, Mabel, a hereditary chief of the Skin Tyee First Nation. He shared their plans and left her with a chilling message: “If I don’t come back, look for me between Vanderhoof and Cluculz Lake.” The family packed their belongings and left their home in the man’s truck, never to be seen again.
Overview: Events Leading to the Jack Family Disappearance
On August 1, 1989, Ronnie Jack left a Prince George pub after being offered a job to help his struggling family. Source: Coldcase.ca
The Job Offer: Ronald Jack, an unemployed woodcutter, met an unidentified man at a local pub (First Litre Pub) in Prince George who promised him a lucrative logging job. The man offered transportation for the family to a supposed camp near Cluculz Lake.
The Last Night: Witnesses reported seeing the Jack family packing belongings into the man’s truck late at night. Ronald even called his mother, cryptically asking her to look for him if he didn’t return. They were never seen again.
Key Description: The unidentified man was described as Caucasian, tall (6’-6’6”), and wearing work clothes. Despite this detailed description, he was never identified.
The Suspect
Source: Canada Unsolved
The primary suspect in the Jack family disappearance is an unidentified man who allegedly approached Ronald Jack at a local bar in Prince George on the night of August 1, 1989. According to reports, this man offered Ronald and his wife Doreen jobs at a remote logging camp near Cluculz Lake.
Described as a Caucasian man in his late 30s, he was tall—estimated to be between 6’ and 6’6”—with a heavy build, reddish-brown hair, and a full beard. Witnesses also noted his attire: a ball cap, red checkered work shirt, faded blue jeans, a blue nylon jacket, and work boots with fringes over the toes.
Despite police releasing a composite sketch of the man, his identity remains unknown, and no strong leads have surfaced regarding his involvement.
The suspect's actions raise numerous red flags, including the urgency of his job offer and the supposed benefits of the work, such as daycare for the children—an unusual promise for a logging camp. His willingness to transport the family in his truck that very night adds to the suspicion, suggesting premeditation.
Whether the man was part of a larger criminal operation, acted alone, or was an opportunist taking advantage of the family's financial struggles remains an open question. Despite being one of the only tangible leads in the case, investigators have been unable to trace him or confirm whether the job he promised ever existed.
The Mystery Phone Call
One of the most intriguing pieces of evidence in the Jack family disappearance is the anonymous phone call received by the RCMP in January 1996. The caller claimed that the Jack family’s bodies were buried “at the south end” of an unspecified ranch. The call was traced to a house in Stoney Creek, a small community west of Prince George.
The voice of the man, which was later analysed by the University of British Columbia, has never officially been identified.
Key Details of the Call:
Timing: The call came nearly seven years after the Jack family’s disappearance.
Origin: The call was traced to a party in Stoney Creek, where six to nine people were reportedly in attendance.
Content: The caller provided vague information, mentioning that the family was buried on a ranch but gave no additional details.
Aftermath: Despite efforts, the RCMP could not locate all the individuals present at the party. The caller never came forward again, even after police released the audio recording in hopes of encouraging more tips.
The Investigation and Challenges
Police found most of the Jack family’s belongings untouched at their Prince George home, including clothes and school records. Indigenous families in British Columbia have long faced barriers in accessing justice, and the Jack family’s case was no different. Early investigation efforts were hampered by lack of resources and bias. As mentioned, in 1996, an anonymous tip claimed the Jack family was buried on a ranch. The tipster was never identified, and searches yielded no evidence.
Connection to the Highway of Tears
The Jack family disappearance is often linked to the Highway of Tears, a notorious stretch of British Columbia Highway 16 known for the disappearances and murders of Indigenous women and girls. The systemic neglect of these cases points to deeper issues in Canada’s treatment of Indigenous communities.
Thousands of documents have accumulated during the investigation into the nearly 30-year-old case at Prince George RCMP. (CBC News)
Theories About The Case
1. Foul Play
The most commonly accepted theory is that the Jack family fell victim to foul play. The man who offered them jobs at a logging camp could have been using the promise of employment to lure them into a deadly trap.
Evidence Supporting This Theory: The unidentified man provided a suspiciously detailed offer, including high wages, benefits, and daycare for the children—unusual perks for a remote logging camp. His willingness to transport the family immediately and late at night raises further red flags. Ronald’s warning to his mother, “If I don’t come back, look for me,” suggests he was wary of the situation but felt he had no choice due to financial desperation.
Speculation: The man’s motivations could have ranged from robbery to abduction or worse. Without any trace of the family or vehicle, it’s possible the man planned the crime meticulously, disposing of evidence in a remote, inaccessible area.
2. Human Trafficking
Another disturbing possibility is that the Jack family was targeted by traffickers. Indigenous people, particularly women and children, are disproportionately vulnerable to trafficking in Canada. The family’s precarious financial situation and the promise of employment made them an easy target.
Evidence Supporting This Theory: The Highway of Tears, near where the family was last seen, has a dark history of disappearances and crimes tied to exploitation. Ronald and Doreen’s sons, Russell and Ryan, were young and could have been seen as desirable targets for traffickers. Traffickers often operate under the guise of legitimate opportunities, which fits the scenario presented by the unidentified man.
Speculation: While the theory is plausible, it’s unclear why the entire family would be taken if the trafficker’s goal was to exploit the children. This raises the possibility that the trafficker intended to eliminate witnesses, resulting in the entire family vanishing without a trace.
3. Accidental Death
An alternative theory posits that the family’s disappearance was not the result of a crime but an accident. The remote, rugged terrain of northern British Columbia, combined with the possibility of traveling in darkness, could have led to a fatal accident.
Evidence Supporting This Theory: Ronald indicated they were heading toward Cluculz Lake, a sparsely populated area with dense forests, steep cliffs, and unpaved roads. If the vehicle veered off the road into a ravine, it could be difficult to locate without thorough searches. Additionally, wildfires, dense vegetation, and the passage of time could have obscured evidence of a crash.
Speculation: However, this theory doesn’t explain why the stranger’s identity remains unknown or why he hasn’t come forward. If the accident occurred after the family parted ways with him, why didn’t he report the incident to the authorities?
4. Organized Crime
Ronald’s reported financial troubles and desperation to work have led some to speculate that the family could have been caught up in organized crime, perhaps unknowingly.
Evidence Supporting This Theory: Ronald had confided in his mother about being in debt, though he didn’t disclose the amount or to whom. If his debts were owed to dangerous individuals, the offer of employment could have been a ruse to lure him into a trap.
Speculation: Under this theory, the family could have been killed as an act of retribution or to send a message. The involvement of organized crime might also explain the lack of evidence or eyewitness accounts, as such groups often operate in secrecy and ensure there are no loose ends.
5. Targeted Hate Crime
Indigenous families along the Highway of Tears have long faced systemic racism and targeted violence. The Jack family may have been singled out because of their heritage, making them victims of a hate crime.
Evidence Supporting This Theory:Indigenous people in British Columbia are overrepresented among victims of violence and disappearances, especially in rural areas. The trusting nature of the family and their isolation from immediate community support may have made them easy targets.
Speculation: This theory raises questions about the stranger’s motives—was he simply looking for victims who would follow him without suspicion? The lack of substantial evidence, however, makes it difficult to connect this theory to specific events or individuals.
6. Serial Offender
Given the geographic location and proximity to the Highway of Tears, some have theorized that the Jack family was targeted by a serial offender. Numerous disappearances along this stretch of highway have been attributed to unidentified serial killers.
Evidence Supporting This Theory: The sketch of the man who offered Ronald the job resembles descriptions of other unidentified suspects tied to crimes along the Highway of Tears. Serial offenders often operate in patterns, using manipulative tactics to lure victims into vulnerable situations, much like the job offer extended to the Jacks.
Speculation: If the family was taken by a serial offender, it’s possible their remains were disposed of in an area unlikely to be searched. However, no direct link between the Jack family and any known offenders has been established.
Police Tip Line
Police say the investigation will remain open until the Jack family is found, and once again encouraged anyone with information to call the detachment at 250-561-3300 or leave an anonymous tip to Northern B.C. Crime Stoppers.
There is also a Facebook Group called Missing Jack Family out of Prince George.
Ongoing Efforts to Solve the Case
According to Global News, Prince George RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper stated, “We have ideas about where the Jack family may have gone, but we don’t have anything to concretely pinpoint what direction they left Prince George in, or if their travel plans changed after the last time they spoke with their family.”
Despite exhaustive efforts over the decades, police have been unable to solve the mystery of the family’s disappearance. Cooper highlighted the challenges of investigating a case from 1989, noting the lack of modern tools such as banking records, debit cards, cellphones, and GPS that are now crucial in missing persons investigations.
This absence makes collecting tips and hearing from potential witnesses even more critical. She emphasized that police remain committed to keeping the case open until they uncover what happened to the Jacks or can, in her words, “bring the family home.”
RCMP Investigations: Decades later, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police still keep the case open, but no substantial leads have emerged.
Community Advocacy: The Jack family’s case is a rallying cry for better resources and systemic change to address the crisis of missing Indigenous people.
Unsolved Mysteries in British Columbia
The Jack family case is not an isolated incident. Other high-profile cases, like the disappearances of women along the Highway of Tears, remain unsolved. These haunting stories demand public attention and justice.
Read more:
Comments