Joseph Andrews
Missing August 4th 2002
The Mystery
On Aug. 4, 2002 Ten-year-old Joseph Andrews of Dawson Creek and his foster parents were camping at the Salmon Valley Resort 25 km north of Prince George. The resort is popular for tubing and on that fateful day that was exactly what Joseph was doing. Family members watched as Joseph was playing on an inner tube on the Salmon River eventually floating out of site and into one of the biggest mysteries in the area.
Clues
The RCMP said they did find a print that matched his size sandal in a sandbar at the confluence of the Fraser and Salmon Rivers. That sandbar is 14 km from where Andrews was last seen and had numerous other footprints on it.
Appearance
On the day of his disappearance Joseph was wearing:
- A shirt, shorts
- A yellow baseball cap
- Sandals
- A bright orange life jacket
- Riding on a four-foot-round bright yellow inner tube with a length of yellow rope attached to it.
Joseph Andrews was 4 9″ tall, weighing 65 lbs.
The Search
Over the course of eight days Police, Search Planes, Helicopters, Forest fire fighters, four police dogs, and search and rescue searched the wooded area in Salmon Valley to the confluence of the Fraser River.
They combed the woods from the Salmon River bridge all the way to the Fort George Canyon on the Fraser River…. nothing, not a piece of clothing or the inner tube itself.
The Salmon River Valley campground is about 25 kilometers north of Prince George, B.C.
Lingering Questions
What happened to Joseph Andrews that day remains a mystery. Speculation ranged from accidental drowning in the nearby river to the possibility of abduction, though no conclusive evidence supported either theory. The lack of physical evidence left investigators and the community deeply unsettled.
For Joseph’s family, the agony of not knowing has been profound. Over the years, they have made public appeals, held vigils, and worked to keep Joseph’s story alive, hoping someone—somewhere—might know something. In a 2007 interview, a family member said, “We just want closure. Even if it’s not the answer we’re hoping for, we need to know what happened to him.”
The Case Today
As of 2025, the case remains unsolved. Joseph would be 33 years old. His name is still listed with Canada’s Missing, and his file remains open with the RCMP. Occasionally, tips trickle in, but nothing has led to a breakthrough.
Joseph’s disappearance is a painful reminder of how quickly a child can vanish—and how long the wait for answers can last. It also highlights the importance of preserving and sharing stories like his. Awareness can lead to answers, even decades later.
If you have any information about the disappearance of Joseph Andrews, please contact the Prince George RCMP or Crime Stoppers. Even the smallest detail could be the missing piece.
Anyone who may have information that might help is asked to contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
