The disappearance of the Jack family is one of British Columbia’s most haunting mysteries. On August 1, 1989, Doreen Jack, 26, Ronald "Ronnie" Jack, 26, and their two sons, nine-year-old Russell and four-year-old Ryan, vanished without a trace after accepting a job offer from a stranger. More than three decades later, the family’s fate remains unknown.
It all began at the First Litre Pub in Prince George, where Ronnie was approached by an unidentified man who claimed to have a lucrative short-term job opportunity. The man said that Ronnie could work at a nearby lumber mill, while Doreen could cook for the camp’s kitchen. He assured Ronnie that childcare was available for the boys and promised good pay—but there was one condition: they had to leave immediately.
Excited about the prospect of work and eager to support his family, Ronnie returned home and explained the situation to Doreen. The family quickly packed a few belongings and climbed into the stranger’s vehicle, leaving behind their apartment and their extended family without warning. Ronnie called his mother later that night to share the news and promised they would return in a few weeks—just in time for the boys to start school in September. They never came back.
In the days following their disappearance, family members grew increasingly concerned. The police were contacted, but the investigation was fraught with missteps. Witnesses who claimed to have seen the family leaving Prince George were dismissed, and crucial leads were either mishandled or ignored. Some investigators speculated that the family may have gone on an impromptu vacation, while others suggested foul play, but no concrete evidence ever emerged.
Over the years, various theories have circulated. Some believe the Jack family was lured into a human trafficking scheme, while others suspect they were victims of a targeted attack. The unknown man who approached Ronnie at the pub was never identified, and the supposed lumber mill job was never verified.
What makes the case even more unsettling is how often the family’s story slipped through the cracks. Early reports were delayed, leads were missed, and the investigation stalled repeatedly. Despite efforts to raise awareness, the Jack family’s case remains one of many unsolved disappearances in northern British Columbia—a region known for the infamous Highway of Tears.
What happened to the Jack family that night in 1989? Was it a case of opportunistic crime, or did they stumble into something far more sinister?
Join us as we unravel the mystery of The Jack Family Disappearance in our latest episode of Unsolved Canadian Mysteries, available now on Spotify and YouTube.