Ryan Shtuka

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Ventura Police Department (CA)

Missing From:

Sun Peaks, British Columbia

Summary:

Ryan John Marcus Shtuka, a 20-year-old seasonal lift operator at Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia, vanished in the early morning hours of February 17, 2018, while walking home from a house party. Despite extensive searches by RCMP, volunteers, and his family, no trace of him has been found. He remains missing.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

On February 16, 2018, Ryan attended a silent disco event at a local bar with friends and roommates. Later that evening, the group moved to a house party at a residence on Burfield Drive in Sun Peaks. At approximately 2:00-2:10 a.m. on February 17, Ryan was seen putting on his coat and shoes to leave the party. His friends, who had already begun walking home, believed he was right behind them. When they turned around, Ryan was nowhere to be seen. The night of his disappearance was extremely cold, with temperatures dropping to approximately minus 26 Celsius and heavy snowfall occurring. Ryan never arrived home and did not show up for work later that day. He has not been active on social media, cellular networks, or used his bank account since his disappearance.

Additional Details:

Ryan's roommate called his mother, Heather Shtuka, to report him missing. His parents, Heather and Scott, who were in Beaumont, Alberta (approximately 9-10 hours away), immediately drove to Sun Peaks. Ryan was officially reported missing at approximately 8:47 p.m. on February 17. Kamloops RCMP responded, with officers arriving around midnight. An extensive search began immediately, involving Kamloops Search and Rescue, volunteer teams, canine units, drones, snowmobiles, and helicopters. Within days, hundreds of volunteers from British Columbia and Alberta joined the search efforts. A cell phone ping at approximately 3 a.m. on February 17 placed Ryan's phone somewhere in Sun Peaks, but the exact location could not be determined from a single ping. Police found no evidence of foul play and ruled out the possibility that Ryan had left Sun Peaks. Authorities urged residents to check garages, sheds, and unlocked vehicles. When snow melted after winter, no sign of Ryan was found. Initial search and rescue theory suggested Ryan may have fallen into a gully covered by heavy snow. In April 2019, the family began more methodical searches using excavators and bobcats to move snow and volunteers performing grid searches, but nothing was found. The investigation has remained open. As of May 2024, private investigators reported increased tips coming in, and the reward was raised to $25,000 (from the initial $5,000 offered in February 2018, then increased to $15,000). A GoFundMe page raised over $56,000 of a $75,000 goal to fund search efforts. Ryan's mother, Heather Shtuka, has written two best-selling books about her experience: 'Missing from Me' and a children's book titled 'Let's Talk About Dinosaurs.' An annual 'Run for Ryan' ski event is held each year on the anniversary of his disappearance. The family continues to return to Sun Peaks regularly to search, and the non-profit group Please Bring Me Home has continued search and rescue dog operations in the area. Over 300 tips and sightings were followed up on, but none led to Ryan. Ryan's case was featured on Paramount's 'Never Seen Again' (Season 3, Episode 12). RCMP continues to receive tips and maintains active communication with the family.

Case Last Updated:

Nov 04, 2026