OFF THE WIRE
By Cheryl Wierda - Kelowna Capital News
Police believe missing West Kelowna man Geoffrey Meisner was murdered because of his association with criminal organizations involved in the trafficking and distribution of drugs.
That admission was made in court documents recently filed in support of Tammy Meisner’s application for an order to have her husband, missing now for more than a year, declared legally dead.
That order was granted Monday.
In an affidavit filed by Sgt. Joanne Skrine, it was said police believe Geoffrey, 33, was the victim of a homicide at the hands of those organized crime groups.
Prior to his disappearance Tammy said she had limited knowledge that her husband was associated and/or affiliated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club and another criminal gang known as the King Pin Crew.
“The nature and extent of Geoffrey’s involvement and participation in organized criminal activities was kept separate from our family life and away from our family home and the children,” she said in an affidavit filed in support of her application.
“Since his disappearance, I have been informed by RCMP investigators that Geoffrey was actively involved in criminal activities and I truly believe that individuals associated with those organized criminal gangs caused the disappearance and death of my husband on Nov. 27, 2009.”
Tammy last saw her husband — and the father of her four children — that morning when she dropped him off at Orchard Park Mall to retrieve his truck.
He was planning to help his brother move and then meet another family member for coffee.
When he didn’t return home as planned or respond to a text message, Tammy began calling the men her husband was scheduled to spend the morning with and learned he hadn’t shown up.
A search began for Geoffrey and his vehicle was founded at the Leathead Starbucks that night. A missing person’s report was filed soon after, and, a year later, his whereabouts are still unknown.
An order to have her husband declared legally deceased was filed because Tammy claims all of the significant family assets are in her husband's name and she has no legal capacity to deal with them. He did not have a life insurance policy.
Since the disappearance, Tammy said she has been struggling to pay the mortgage and provide for her family’s expenses.
By making an order to declare Geoffrey dead, it would allow Tammy to apply for administration of his estate and access the equity in the family home and other assets to provide for the family, she explained.
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/kelownacapitalnews/news/111059439.html
