The mysterious disappearance of Marshall Iwasa continues to baffle investigators and family members alike. On a seemingly routine November evening in 2019, the 26-year-old Calgary resident embarked on what should have been a simple journey to visit his mother in Lethbridge. After helping her with computer issues and planning a quick stop at a storage facility, Marshall was expected to return home. His family had no idea that he had secretly stopped attending college classes or that this would be the last time they would see him.

Six days later, hikers made a disturbing discovery along the remote Felix Creek Trail in British Columbia—Marshall's truck, completely torched, with personal belongings scattered across the area. The scene included smashed electronics, clothing, and curiously, items later identified as belonging to Daniel Riok, another man who disappeared just three days after Marshall's vehicle was found. Most puzzling was Marshall's unexplained overnight vigil at a storage unit before his disappearance, where he spent over two hours inside after multiple attempts to gain entry, raising questions about what was so urgent that it couldn't wait until morning.

Key Takeaways

Marshall's burned vehicle was discovered on a remote trail 14 hours from his home, with personal items scattered around but no sign of him.
Evidence suggests connections to Daniel Riok's disappearance, with Riok's belongings found at the scene of Marshall's abandoned truck.
Security records reveal Marshall spent the night attempting to access his storage unit before disappearing, with his digital and financial traces going cold after leaving the facility.

Marshall Iwasa's Departure from Calgary

Leaving College Behind

Marshall Iwasa, 26, had stopped attending his college classes some time before April 2025, though he hadn't shared this information with his family. Rather than enrolling for the upcoming semester, he quietly stepped away from his education. His decision to unenroll remained private, possibly because he wasn't ready to discuss this change with loved ones, or perhaps because he had become involved in other pursuits.

Visiting His Mother

On that fateful day, Marshall completed several household chores at his Calgary residence before embarking on a two-hour drive to Lethbridge to see his mother. The visit was brief but purposeful; he helped her troubleshoot computer issues until approximately 11:00 PM. Before departing, Marshall bid his mother goodnight, giving the impression he would soon return to his regular college routine. His family remained unaware that his academic career had already come to a halt.

Tasks at the Storage Facility

After leaving his mother's home, Marshall didn't immediately return to Calgary as expected. Instead, he went to a storage facility in Lethbridge's industrial park. Records show he attempted to enter his unit multiple times throughout the night, despite the facility being closed. His persistence was remarkable:

Timing: Made repeated unsuccessful keypad entry attempts throughout the night
Success: Finally gained access around 6:00 AM
Duration: Spent approximately 2.5 hours inside his unit
Departure: Left the facility at precisely 8:24 AM

According to family members, Marshall needed to retrieve a component for his custom-built computer. As a computer enthusiast who had invested about 800 hours developing a video game, fixing his computer would have been a priority. The storage unit was later examined by authorities who found nothing unusual or missing.

Finding at Felix Creek Trail

Felix Creek Trail in British Columbia features a scenic path that begins on an old logging road and opens into a valley leading to the Brian Wadington Hut. Maintained by volunteers, this remote location typically sees few visitors, especially when no overnight stays are registered. However, on November 23, 2019, hikers made a disturbing discovery that would connect to a mysterious disappearance.

Burnt Vehicle Discovered on Remote Path

A group of hikers encountered a burnt pickup truck at the trailhead where the logging road transitions to the hiking trail. The vehicle had been driven as far as possible into the wooded area before being abandoned and set ablaze. The hikers reported that the burnt wreckage still smelled fresh, suggesting the fire had occurred recently.

The scene was so concerning that the hiking group decided to turn back rather than continue to the hut. They promptly contacted police to report what they had found. Later investigation revealed the truck belonged to 26-year-old Marshall Iwasa, who had disappeared six days earlier after visiting his mother in Lethbridge. The truck's location was approximately 14 hours away from where Marshall was last seen.

Evidence Scattered Around the Site

Around the burnt vehicle, investigators found numerous personal belongings scattered across the area. These items included:

Electronic devices: Three smashed cell phones and a destroyed laptop
Identification: Multiple ID cards and two passports
Personal items: Clothing, toiletry bags, and other possessions

Most items belonged to Marshall, but interestingly, some were later identified as belonging to Daniel Riok, another missing person who disappeared just three days after Marshall's truck was discovered.

Police noted evidence tampering had occurred between the hikers' discovery and when authorities arrived. Items originally contained in a box had been spread out, broken, and apparently doused with water or ice. Given the remote location's difficult access, this suggested someone with knowledge of the case had returned to the scene.

The orderly condition of Marshall's trunk before his disappearance contrasted sharply with the scattered items, and his hiking backpack was never recovered. This arrangement of evidence at Felix Creek Trail created more questions than answers in the investigation of what happened to Marshall Iwasa.

Ties to Daniel Riok's Disappearance

The investigation into Marshall Iwaasa's case revealed unexpected connections to another missing person. Daniel Riok vanished under similarly mysterious circumstances just 3 days after Marshall's burned truck was discovered in the remote British Columbia wilderness. This timing created a disturbing pattern that investigators could not ignore.

Several items found scattered around Marshall's torched pickup were later identified by Daniel Riok's family as belonging to him. These personal possessions created a tangible link between the two disappearances that had previously been treated as separate cases.

The evidence tampering at Marshall's truck site further complicates the connection. Between the initial hiker discovery and the RCMP investigation, someone apparently returned to the scene and deliberately manipulated the evidence. Items previously contained in boxes were found spread out, broken, and apparently doused with water or ice.

Given the extremely remote location of the burned truck, investigators found it highly unlikely that random individuals would have stumbled upon and tampered with the scene. The hikers who made the initial discovery reported seeing no one else in the area during their visit.

Recent developments have strengthened the connection between these two cases. While authorities have not released all details, the evidence increasingly suggests these disappearances may be related rather than coincidental events occurring within days of each other.

The geographical separation between where Marshall was last seen in Lethbridge and where Daniel disappeared adds another layer of complexity to understanding how these two individuals' fates became intertwined.

Evidence Tampering and Crime Scene Assessment

Marshall Iwasa's disappearance case involves disturbing evidence of possible tampering and unusual circumstances surrounding his last known activities. His abandoned vehicle and personal belongings created a puzzling crime scene that raised more questions than answers.

Items Found at Discovery Site

The Felix Creek Trail crime scene contained a variety of personal effects scattered around Marshall's burned vehicle. Hikers who stumbled upon the scene on November 23, 2019, documented finding:

A completely torched pickup truck
Two passports
Three smashed cell phones
One smashed laptop
Multiple ID cards
Toiletry bags
Various clothing items
Work items later identified as belonging to Daniel Riok

The truck had been driven to the furthest accessible point where the logging road transitions to a hiking trail, approximately 14 hours from Marshall's last known location. The steering column had been removed, suggesting possible theft or an attempt to disable the vehicle before burning it.

Most notable was the mix of belongings - while many items belonged to Marshall, several work-related items were later identified by the family of Daniel Riok, a man who disappeared just three days after Marshall's truck was discovered.

RCMP's Arrival and Scene Examination

When law enforcement arrived at the remote location, they discovered concerning changes to the crime scene. Evidence appeared to have been deliberately manipulated between the hikers' initial discovery and the official investigation.

The RCMP noted several troubling observations:

Items previously contained in a box were spread out across the area
Some electronic devices were strategically broken
Water or ice had been poured on certain evidence
Several items had been completely removed

This tampering occurred despite the scene's extremely remote location, which was difficult for even investigators to access. The hikers who first discovered the scene reported seeing no one else in the area, and no visitor logs indicated anyone else had visited during this time period.

The timing of this tampering is particularly suspicious as it happened within a narrow two-day window between the hikers' departure and the RCMP's arrival. This suggests whoever altered the scene likely had knowledge of Marshall's disappearance rather than being a random passerby.

The condition of the evidence and signs of deliberate manipulation have complicated investigative efforts to determine what actually happened to Marshall after he left the storage facility on that November morning.

Marshall's Unexplained Storage Unit Visit

Nighttime Access Attempts

On November 17, 2019, Marshall Iwasa made a trip from Calgary to Lethbridge to visit his mother. After helping her with computer issues around 11:00 PM, he set out for a local storage facility in Lethbridge's industrial park. What seemed like a quick errand before returning to Calgary turned into an all-night affair. According to facility records, Marshall repeatedly entered his access code throughout the night without success, as the facility was closed. Determined to access his unit, he remained at the location until approximately 6:00 AM when he finally gained entry.

Security keypad logs confirm Marshall spent about 2.5 hours inside his storage unit, finally departing at 8:24 AM. This extended visit raises questions about what was so urgently needed that warranted waiting outside all night. After this point, Marshall's whereabouts became unknown—his financial activity ceased, and he never returned home.

Personal Items and Intended Plans

Marshall's truck was discovered six days later on November 23, 2019, at the Felix Creek Trail in British Columbia—approximately 14 hours from Lethbridge. The vehicle had been completely burned, with the steering column removed. Several personal belongings were scattered around the site:

Multiple smashed electronic devices (3 cell phones and a laptop)
Two passports
Various ID cards
Clothing and toiletries
Personal documents

Family members indicated nothing appeared to be missing from Marshall's storage unit after subsequent searches. Marshall had reportedly been developing a video game, dedicating approximately 800 hours to the project. His mother mentioned he needed to retrieve a computer part to repair his custom-built computer, which might explain his urgency to access the storage unit.

The presence of clothing and toiletries at the discovery site suggests Marshall had packed a bag for some kind of trip. His hiking backpack was notably missing from the recovered items. Interestingly, not all items found belonged to Marshall—some were later identified as belonging to Daniel Riok, another individual who disappeared just three days after Marshall's truck was discovered.

Theories About Marshall's Vanishing

Gaming Project Development

Marshall spent approximately 800 hours creating a video game before his disappearance. According to timestamps, he had been working on this project the morning before visiting his mother. This significant time investment suggests the game was more than a casual hobby—it represented countless hours of creative effort and technical skill.

His determination to access the storage unit through the night until 6:00 AM, despite multiple failed attempts, indicates he urgently needed something related to his computer. Family members confirmed he needed a box for a computer part that required repair or replacement. This urgency makes sense considering his substantial investment in the game development project.

The timing is particularly interesting. Marshall had stopped attending college classes without informing his family, potentially redirecting his focus entirely to this gaming project. This shift in priorities might explain his reluctance to share his academic situation with family members.

Prepared Travel Bag and Unrecovered Items

Evidence strongly suggests Marshall had planned some form of journey. Items discovered scattered around his burned truck included:

Multiple sets of clothing
Personal identification documents
Two passports
Three destroyed mobile phones
A damaged laptop
Various toiletries

This collection of items indicates deliberate packing rather than everyday possessions. Marshall reportedly kept his vehicle trunk well-organized, suggesting these weren't randomly accumulated items but purposefully gathered for travel.

Notably absent was Marshall's hiking backpack, which was never recovered from the scene. This missing item further supports the theory that he had prepared for a specific trip following his storage unit visit. The presence of toiletries and clothing amounts appropriate for extended travel reinforces this conclusion.

The destination remains unclear, as Marshall had no known contacts in British Columbia where his truck was discovered. The location—14 hours from his last confirmed whereabouts—raises significant questions about his intended destination and how his vehicle ended up so far from his usual routes.

The Unsolved Mystery of Marshall Iwasa's Disappearance in Pemberton, BC