Surrey family pleads for safe return of Yashpal Mehay

Family and friends are still seeking answers to the whereabouts of Yashpal Mehay, the missing forty-three year old husband and father of two from Surrey.

On July 14th, 2009 Mr. Mehay disappeared after departing for Clinton BC where he co-owns a business and traveled frequently to every week. The last family member to see Yashpal Mehay was his son, who assisted Mr. Mehay with loading up his vehicle, a grey 2004 Mazda MPV bearing British Columbia licence plate 494KVK. At that time, Yashpal Mehay was wearing a green and white American Eagle long sleeve polo shirt and brown pants.

Yashpal Mehay was not known to drink, smoke, gamble, or use drugs. Mr. Mehay was the head of a Buddhist Community Group and was characterized as being quiet, peaceful, and happy. Mr. Mehay was not known to have any health or mental health issues at the time of his disappearance. He was not known to have any enemies, conflicts, or issues with anyone. There is also no indication that there were any financial issues with respect to Yashpal Mehay and his brother-in-law’s business.

The Surrey RCMP’s investigation revealed that on July 14, 2009 at 2:43pm, Yashpal Mehay made a purchase at the Costco in Abbotsford, BC and shortly thereafter purchased fuel at the same Costco. Video showed that Yashpal Mehay was wearing the same clothing described by his son. A short time later, Yashpal Mehay made a purchase at the Staples in Chilliwack, BC. There have not been any further confirmed sightings of Yashpal Mehay after this. There have also been no further credit card or banking transactions after the one at Staples.

Aerial searches, highway patrols, search and rescue, sonar searches, underwater recovery unit teams, rafting companies, railway police and workers, auto wreckers, ICBC checks, and police files in the area were all consulted and reviewed in the Surrey RCMP’s search.

Family and friends of Yashpal Mehay have also offered a reward for any information leading to his whereabouts and put up posters and walked the highway between Abbotsford and Clinton. Numerous potential sightings of Yashpal Mehay’s vehicle have been reported and followed up but nothing of investigative value was obtained.

Yashpal Mehay is described as a forty-one year old South Asian male, approximately 5"7-5"8′, 180-185 lbs, with short black hair, brown eyes, and a black moustache. Anyone with any information as to his whereabouts are asked to call the Surrey RCMP’s Missing Person Unit at 604-599-0502.