Cranbrook RCMP, Search and Rescue, family and friends continue to search for a 20-year-old Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Fantuz of Jaffray who is believed to have driven off the Bull River Forest Service Road on Monday, June 24 and was last seen at 11:15 p.m. that night.

Search efforts have been scaled back due to high water levels in the Bull River and increased turbidity, which continues to hamper everyone’s efforts to locate the vehicle and driver.

The police investigation and search efforts have confirmed a location where a vehicle left the Bull River Forest Service Road and is presumed to have entered the river. Items recovered at the scene and from locations down river have been confirmed by family as belonging to Ezekiel Fantuz. Police and family have a high degree of certainty that the missing vehicle is located in the Bull River at the location where it went off the road; however, the driver has not been located and is presumed to be deceased.

The RCMP are requesting the assistance of all users on the Bull River and Kootenay River such as kayakers; rafters; boaters; fishermen; etc. to be aware of this investigation and to be on the lookout for any items associated to this case and to report the finding of them to their local police detachment.

The Cranbrook RCMP would like to thank all the people who have, and are continuing to assist in this case.

Zeke Fantuz’s family would like the public to know that they will be holding memorial service for him on Saturday, July 6 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Jaffray, with a reception to follow at the Jaffray Community Hall.

Zeke’s Facebook page has become an online memorial for the young man and there is a note for those planning on attending the memorial service: “ALERT… Reay’s cattle drive is taking place Saturday morning so please keep that in mind if you are coming up the Jaffray-Baynes Lk Rd for Zeke’s memorial.”

There is also a ‘in lieu of flowers notice: “In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Zeke Fantuz Memorial Fund. Proceeds from this fund will be used to create a legacy for Zeke. Those wishing to contribute may do so through any CIBC branch. The account is temporarily under the name of “Christine Fantuz In Trust for Zeke Fantuz” Transit #: 00970 Account #: 7787987

Donations may also be sent through PayPal and Interac e-Transfer using [email protected] .

If anyone has any additional information about this incident they can call the Cranbrook RCMP at 250-489-3471 or East Kootenay Crimestoppers (1-800-222-TIPS).

Cranbrook RCMP/e-KNOW

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