Thursday, March 28, 2024

Father and son reported missing after camping trip are safe (UPDATE)

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UPDATE: Jan Stelmaszyk has confirmed he and his son are safe.

Stelmaszyk posted a photo on Instagram with the caption, “OMG!!! I just woke up to realize me and my son are ‘missing’. That ‘some family members’ are ‘concerned’ about where we are and that I haven’t posted anything on social media for a couple of days.
#fakenews #backtoposting”

There are conflicting reports as to where Stelmaszyk is actually located, as the post’s location is tagged in Arco, Italy.

Victoria Buzz has reached out to Port Alberni RCMP to confirm.

EARLIER: The Port Alberni RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 35-year-old Jan Stelmaszyk and his three-year-old son Matt Bartnik.

Stelmaszyk and Bartnik’s family contacted RCMP at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3. The pair were believed to be camping somewhere on Vancouver Island, possibly in the Victoria area.

Stelmaszyk was keeping his family updated of their time away on Instagram, but the family says they have not received any messages in four days and are concerned for the pair’s well-being.

Stelmaszyk is described as a Caucasian man standing 6’2″, weighing 155 lbs, with brown eyes, black hair, and a full beard and moustache.

Bartnik is Caucasian, and three and a half years old, with a thin build and longer collar-length light brown hair and grey eyes.

Stelmaszyk drives a white 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe with the B.C. plate CL9 65H. He does not have cell phone communication, according to police.

“We just want to know that Jan and Matt are safe,” says Cpl. Amelia Hayden.

Anyone who may have information on Stelmaszyk and his son’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Port Alberni RCMP at 250-723-2424 or call Alberni Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Myles Sauer
Former staff editor and writer at Victoria Buzz.

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