Justice · Bella Coola deathsBella Coola grizzly attack investigation: Missing daughter also found deadAired November 4, 2026 at 6:42 AM UTCWritten November 4, 2026 at 6:51 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Searchers have found a mother and her missing daughter dead near Bella Cula.0:11Their family says they were taking a familiar walk close to home.0:15Conservation officers suspect an animal attack and have warned people away from the0:21trail.0:21Investigators the women were found in the Snooka West Trail Area, about eight0:26kilometers east of Bella Cula, British Columbia.0:29Their family identified them as Jennifer Balcaris, who was forty eight, and her0:34daughter Seela Reed.0:36The trail was roughly a five-minute drive from their home, and both women knew it.0:41Jennifer's brother Josh Balcaris called it just a casual walk.0:46He said the area was not in a remote area.0:49Their family expected them to return from somewhere familiar.0:52The women went walking on October31 .0:55Their family reported them missing November1.0:58Searchers found Jennifer on November2, and Cela was found dead the following1:04afternoon, November3.1:06RCMP officers and search and rescue teams took part.1:09Josh described how the family's worry grew through successive nights.1:13The way it starts is a few hours of not hearing from them.1:17That turns into a day, and then a night, then a second night comes, and it becomes a1:22real thing.1:23Both women have now been found dead.1:24Jennifer worked as an art therapist in Bellacula and had four children.1:29Sela was her youngest.1:31Her brothers remembered her love of books, playing guitar and singing, as well as1:36painting and spending time outdoors.1:38Her art also became part of her family's homes.1:41She painted murals in her children's homes and in her brother Matthew's home.1:46Matthew remembered her as very much a central person in our family.1:50Those memories describe a mother whose work and creativity reached into everyday1:54family life.1:55Sayla worked as an education assistant and was studying through Athabasca1:59University's online learning program.2:02Her family described her as a gentle, sweet, quiet soul.2:06She loved ballet, art and hiking, interests that overlapped with her mother's.2:12Josh said the two got along really well.2:14They were two peas in a pod.2:16When Jenny hiked, Seila was right there beside her.2:20Their family remembers a close relationship, with the daughter sharing activities2:25her mother loved.2:26Sayla's exact age is still unclear.2:28The ages given are nineteen and twenty.2:31Her family has identified her by name, and conservation officers confirmed that the2:37second victim was found dead Tuesday afternoon.2:40Evidence where Jennifer was found suggested possible animal involvement, bringing2:45conservation officers into the investigation.2:48Officers set traps as a team investigated the suspected attack.2:53Inspector Jeff Tyre, Inspector Jeff Tyre, said no bears had been captured at the2:59time of his update.3:00Jeff Tyre offered condolences to the victims' families.3:03Knoxalk Nation elected Chief Samuel Schooner.3:07Also extended condolences.3:09He directed community members and media to the Conservation Service for updates as3:14officers worked to determine what happened.3:16The community had already experienced a grizzly attack the previous year.3:21In twenty twenty-five, a grizzly attacked children and teachers near Bella Cula,3:26leaving several critically injured.3:28Schooner said these deaths would bring trauma to the women's family, people affected3:33by that earlier attack, and the wider community.3:37Conservation officers said they would assess any bears they captured before deciding3:42what to do next.3:43If they determined a bear was responsible for the attack, they would kill it under3:48provincial guidelines to protect public safety.3:51Investigators haven't announced a final cause of death or identified a responsible3:56animal.3:57A grizzly's involvement remains unconfirmed.4:00The public has been told to stay away from the Snooka West Trail Area, while4:05conservation officers investigate.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
