A 41-year-old Cobble Hill man whose disappearance last year triggered a massive search died by suicide, the B.C. Coroners Service said in a report released Monday.
Ben Kilmer was reported missing May 16, 2018, after his van was found abandoned and running in the Sahtlam area, west of Duncan.
His body was found five months later by a hiker in a remote area of the Cowichan Valley, about seven kilometres from where the van was located.
The coroner said blood found in the van was Kilmer’s, but it stemmed from an injury unrelated to his disappearance and death.
If you, or someone you know, needs help, call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or 310-Mental Health (310-6789).
In addition, the Vancouver Island Crisis Line operates 24 hours a day at 1-888-494-3888, Crisis Chat is available online at vicrisis.ca from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly, and Crisis Text can be reached during the same hours at 250-800-3806.
