In the autumn of 1964, a young man named Le-Roi Francis La France, a 19-year-old student at the University of British Columbia, vanished. The exact date of his disappearance from British Columbia remains uncertain, with some accounts suggesting he was last seen in October or November, while more recent police statements mention March 20, 1964. At the time, Le-Roi was a resident of Burnaby and drove a 1952 Volkswagen Beetle.
He was described as an Indigenous man, standing 5'5' tall with a slim build, short brown hair, brown eyes, and he wore glasses. His sudden absence left a void, but the official investigation into his whereabouts would not begin for more than half a century.
The case of Le-Roi La France is marked by a significant and unusual delay in official reporting. For decades, his siblings believed a missing person report had been filed. It was not until March 31, 2016, that they discovered no such report existed, prompting them to formally notify the authorities. This gap of over 50 years created immense challenges for investigators. The Coquitlam RCMP took over the file in 2016, as it was believed Le-Roi may have been in Coquitlam around the time he disappeared. The passage of time meant that memories had faded, potential evidence was lost, and the trail had grown cold.
As of today, the search for answers continues. In January 2024, as the 60-year mark of his disappearance approached, the Coquitlam RCMP issued a renewed public appeal for any information regarding Le-Roi's whereabouts or what may have happened to him. Investigators have stated that while foul play is not suspected, it has not been entirely ruled out. The case remains open, a long-standing mystery fueled by the hope that someone, somewhere, holds a piece of information that could finally bring clarity. The overview of the case reflects a profound and delayed search for a young student who disappeared in 1964, a search that was only officially launched by his family more than five decades later, leaving investigators to piece together a historical puzzle with very few remaining clues.Last Seen: Nov 1, 1964
