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South Okanagan Photos

Penticton woman found in Nevada, husband still missing

A Penticon woman who disappeared en route to a Las Vegas trade show in March has been found alive in Nevada. RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk says Rita Chretien, 56, was found with the couple’s van on a forest service road early Friday evening. “A group of hunters located Al and Rita Chretien’s vehicle this afternoon” he says, “Rita remained with the vehicle, she was found conscious and was able to speak with her rescuers.”
Cpl Dan Moskaluk

Moskaluk says the couple got stuck on the forest service road on March 19th, the same day they were spotted stopping in Baker City, Oregon. “On March 22nd, Al Chretien left the vehicle to get assistance and has not been seen since..” He says Rita has been able to speak to family members in Penticton, BC on the phone, some of whom are now making their way to Nevada. It is believed Chretien survived 7 weeks on water alone – a feat unheard of to Moskaluk. “I was just dumbfounded when I heard the news. In 26 years of policing and being involved in a variety of different types of searches and missing persons investigations I have never experienced anything like this. It’s tremendous news for the family on the one hand, but still bittersweet.” He says in recent weeks family members were “realistic” about finding the couple alive. “Some families with missing persons never find out what exactly has happened to their loved ones.” An air and ground search for Al Chretien has resumed.

Thanks to CKNW Vancouver