It’s been two years since Trina Hunt’s husband told police his wife was missing after she left their home in Port Moody, British Columbia.
The January 18, 2021, disappearance piqued the curiosity of the husband-and-wife team behind the popular True North True Crime podcast, which focuses on missing and murdered people in Canada.
“There was something different about this story when it crashed because Port Moody is an incredibly safe place to live. So for a 48-year-old woman to just disappear in Port Moody seemed strange,” co-host Graham Duffy said.
“I grew up in Port Moody, so I was initially very intrigued by this case because I was very familiar with the area,” said Graham’s wife and co-host Caitlin. “And I think overall Trina is just a relatable person and that’s what really got us into this case.”
The pair were preparing an episode about the mysterious disappearance when police announced in May 2021 that remains found near Hope had been identified as Hunt’s.
“We had started it as a missing person episode and by the time we finished it was a murder,” Graham said. “We just knew at that point that it was going to be incredibly devastating for the family and for a really large group of people who have come together in communities online to support the family.”
ARREST BUT NO CHARGES
Thirteen months later, neighbors captured video of Trina’s handcuffed husband Ian Hunt, who was arrested in the couple’s driveway.
“I remember that day we were like, ‘We’re finally going to get answers. We will get justice. That’s it,’” Caitlin recalls.
“And then it wasn’t, he was released,” Caitlin said.
Since then, there have been no other arrests and no suspects have been publicly named. Homicide investigators will not discuss the case or take questions from the media.
Criminologist Rob Gordon, a professor at Simon Fraser University and a former police officer, suspects it’s because they don’t believe a public appeal will help their case.
“They have their prime suspect, all they need is a piece of the puzzle that is currently being held by the British Columbia Prosecutor’s Office,” Gordon said.
His hunch is that the police thought they had enough to charge Hunt’s husband when he was arrested, but the Crown attorney disagreed and did not approve the charge.
THE PRIZE IS STILL ON OFFER
Trina’s family maintains a $50,000 reward for information leading to criminal charges. Graham said that could mean police suspect at least one other person besides the killer knows details of the crime.
“Are people willing to step forward and say, ‘I know more information than I’ve talked about before, or I’ve been quiet, and now I’d like to come forward and give this family some peace,'” he wondered.
But Gordon is skeptical that any reward will help at this stage.
“People who know know. And they’re loyal to the prime suspect, so they won’t spill the beans. Especially since it would probably require a public appearance in court to testify,” the criminologist said.
Gordon predicted that the Crown could be forced to continue without an iron case.
“You throw everything into court and hope the jury accepts the evidence the police have, warts and all.”
The Duffys agree that the Crown attorney is probably deciding whether they think there could be more evidence or if it’s the best case they’re going to get.
“I guess the question is: Is the Crown just waiting for one last piece of evidence? Did they send the file back to IHIT several times and say there wasn’t enough?” Grema asked.
“I think they want that last piece of information,” Caitlin said.
With the case still unsolved two years after Trina Hunt was last seen alive, podcasters say listener interest remains high. They are currently working on another episode of True North True Crime about the case, which is due to drop in February.
Add Comment