Where have you gone, Ashley Simpson? It's been four years

Four years ago, Ashley Simpson and her boyfriend Derek Favell left their life in Pink Mountain, British Columbia and decided to make their home in Salmon Arm, the small community where Derek had grown up.
Ashley had lived lots of places after growing up in St. Catharines, Ontario. Ashley loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and enjoyed following her dad, John, who divided his time as a cook in rugged Northern work camps, on ships that sailed through the Great Lakes, and at a posh resort in Huntsville, Ontario. Ashley was a happy child, who wasn't afraid of hard work.
She loved children, and charmed everyone with her infectious laugh.
It was in Pink Mountain where John last saw his beloved daughter. John had to get back to Ontario, but Ashley had met Derek and wanted to stay, so John reluctantly told her to stay safe and keep in touch.
He kissed his daughter and wished her luck.
Over the next few months, Ashley's mom and her sisters were in constant contact with Ash, spending time with her on Facebook, and laughing at her endless selfies.
So when Cindy McGean Simpson didn't hear from Ashley after April 26th, she began to worry. It was highly unusual for Ashley to go social media silent.
As things turned out, it would be days before Cindy discovered her daughter had gone missing after a fight with Derek.
And it was more than a week before the RCMP got involved, and determined that Ashley was indeed missing and presumed harmed.
What happened in the ensuing months is unclear. A week is a long time in a murder investigation. Evidence goes missing, suspects have lot of time to get their stories straight. In spite of an extensive investigation involving RCMP from the area, and from Vancouver's major crime unit, detectives came up empty handed. Four years later, the RCMP tells the family that the investigation is still active, but there is still no news.
It didn't help that unlike Derek who had deep roots in the community, Ashley was a newcomer to Salmon Arm. Rumours swirled. Had she met the same fate as other women who disappeared along the infamous B.C. Highway of Tears? Surely someone had seen her.
But nobody admitted anything.
A couple of weeks later, Ashley's neighbour, Deanna Wertz disappeared.
Then it was revealed that two other women had gone missing in the area.
Were these disappearances related?
Suddenly, a missing woman from St. Catharines, Ontario became part of a national discussion. British Columbia had a missing women problem. Indigenous women and girls were being abused and victimized. A national inquiry was launched, recommendations were made, witnesses were called.
None of these efforts have made any difference as far as Ashley's family and friends are concerned.
Ashley Marie Simpson is still missing four years later. No one has been arrested. And there are no leads. Her parents continue to wait, and hope that someone stumbles on a shallow grave, or that somebody fesses up.
A relative has even offered up a $10,000 reward for information. That's a lot of money. It could help somebody relocate without fear of reprisal.
Still, nothing.
There has been some good that has come from all of this. Because of Ashley, a grassroots organization has arisen which is dedicated to helping families whose loved ones have gone missing in rugged areas where search and rescue is virtually impossible. The group, Wings of Mercy, is using drone technology to go where humans fear to tread, and the drone operator volunteers fan out each weekend to help when everybody goes home.
John has kept himself busy raising funds, and creating awareness about the need for greater funding and support for the families of missing and murdered women, men, and children. It's been difficult to carry on knowing that Ashley is still out there, somewhere.
John and Cindy just want answers.
Eventually, everybody goes home, and the family is left with their private grief.
It's not fair, but let's face it, this is not a piece of fiction. The RCMP doesn't always get their man.
We should accept that we may never know.
But that's not who we are.
As Ashley's cousin, I have spent hours writing about this case, and talking to reporters hoping that Ashley is never forgotten.
On Monday, I am asking everyone to post a photo of Ashley, to remember her wonderful spirit. Those who knew her should take to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and offer up a memory.
Let's go viral. For Ashley.
She is out there somewhere.
So is a killer.
We will never rest until that person is brought to justice, and stands in front of the family and tells them what happened to their beautiful child.
Never give up.
Never.