Robert Baines has been missing since Jan. 2 (photo courtesy of his family/Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

missing person

Man’s disappearance still a mystery

Jan 15, 2024 | 4:00 PM

It’s been almost two weeks since an elderly man with Alzheimer’s went missing from a relative’s home in Coldstream, and police say there are still no breakthroughs in the investigation.

Robert Lee Baines, 83, was last seen at his daughter’s residence on Ponderosa Way before leaving at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2.

In response, dozens of search and rescue volunteers from Vernon and other Interior communities, joined forces with RCMP. They used dog teams, helicopters and drones, to comb nearby Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park in the days after, but found no sign of the missing man.

Search teams look for Robert Baines in Kalamalka Lake Park earlier this month. (file photo/Kaslo Search-Rescue/Facebook)

The search teams also went to each home in that area and looked through outbuildings, boats and bushes, but again, found no clues.

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“Statistically, the highest probability of locating a person on this type of search is within a structure. They will seek shelter,” Coralie Nairn, VSAR manager said back on Jan. 6.

The volunteer search teams were “stood down” by RCMP on Jan. 8, but police vowed to continue to investigate Baines’ disappearance.

Since that time, it has snowed in the Vernon area, and of course, become extremely cold.

Vernon Matters reached out to the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP to find out of there have been any updates since that time.

“We don’t have any updates to provide at this time. We are still continuing our investigation and always welcome any information from the public,” Const. Chris Terleski, media relations officer, said on Monday (Jan. 15).

Mr. Baines’ relatives have been asking people to keep their eyes open on social media.

“If you have any information, please contact the RCMP,” said Karen Anne Ogloff, Robert Baines’ niece, on Facebook.

Baines is described as an 83-year-old Caucasian man, standing 5-9 tall and weighing 200 pounds. He is bald with brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a green tilly hat, green jacket, grey undershirt, blue jeans and white hiking shoes (similar to what’s shown in this article’s picture).