Burned SUV Prompts New Call for Help

Jun 26, 2026 | 1:03 PM


HOUSTON – The RCMP is again asking for the public’s help to find a man from northern B.C. who has not been in touch with his family for almost two years.

The BC RCMP North District Major Crime Unit and Houston RCMP say they are still searching for 57-year-old Michael Randolf Kowalchuk. Investigators hope that bringing attention back to the case will lead to new tips.

Kowalchuk was first reported missing to police on June 26, 2025, after his family said they had not heard from him in over a year. Police learned he had last lived in Granisle, but searches there and in nearby communities found no trace of him. The last confirmed sighting of Kowalchuk was in Prince Rupert in July 2024.24.

Police say Kowalchuk is a Caucasian man, six feet tall, weighing 194 pounds, with a medium build. He has blonde hair, often tied in a ponytail, blue eyes, and a light brown goatee.

Investigators think Kowalchuk’s white Cadillac Escalade was found burned and destroyed outside Granisle in late summer 2024.

Police say a member of the public found the SUV on an unmarked road near Highway 118, but it was not reported to authorities at the time.

Investigators also believe that other items were left near the vehicle, but these were gone by the time officers arrived.

RCMP say the area where the Escalade was found is often used for hunting, camping, and tree planting. Many people may have passed through without noticing anything unusual.

Police are asking anyone who saw the Cadillac, has video or photos from the area, or may have picked up items nearby, such as bags, clothing, or tools, to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houston RCMP at 250-845-2204.