Search For Mother Missing in Vancouver Park Ends After Body Found

Yu Ting Ji, who lives in East Vancouver, left home on the morning of Nov. 9, traveled to Waterfront Station and was caught walking along West Cordova St. by a surveillance camera.

The 53-year-old, who carried only her Compass Card — a smart card used for public transit in Metro Vancouver — suffered from depression and anxiety, according to her son Alger Liang.

The family began worrying when she failed to return as usual.

Ting stood 5 feet and 5 inches, weighed 100 pounds (45.36 kilograms) and had brown eyes and black-brown hair. She was last seen wearing a white jacket, black pants, gray toque and possibly a yellow face mask, according to CBC News.

Liang, a track-and-field athlete at the University of British Columbia, filed a missing person’s report with the Vancouver Police Department later that afternoon.

At least 30 family members and friends started looking for Ting all over the city, while some 200 people joined a WeChat support group.

“I have friends and family looking out,” Liang told CTV News. “Everyone’s calling businesses for footage. We’ve been calling the shelters, the hospitals.”

Liang also set up an Instagram page dedicated to the search, which has now amassed nearly 4,000 followers.

On Sunday, he announced the discovery of his mother’s body in Stanley Park, which covers an area of 405 hectares (4.05 square kilometers).

“After an enormous community search effort, my mom’s body was found on Nov. 14, 2020 in Stanley Park. Thank you to everyone in the Vancouver community for helping us search and find closure to this rigorous week,” Liang wrote on his personal Instagram page. “Our network spanned far, and my dad and I are deeply touched by your love and support. As a family of three, her passing greatly affects my dad and I.”

Liang described his mother as his “most resilient, passionate, warm, loving and bright role model.” He also recalled her as an artist, cook, hiker, swimmer, mahjong player and “much more.”

“More importantly, she is a mother, sister, friend and human angel,” he noted.

Liang set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of finding aid for Ting’s memorial service and their family’s income loss since his father has been out of work for eight months taking care of his mother.

Liang also penned a “request” for the public:

Feature Images via Alger Liang