01/16/12: Mike Grefner, 34, Whistler, BC, Canada

Mike Grefner

Published: 2/23/12 5:12 p.m.   Revised: 3/20/12 8:54 p.m.
Last updated: 02/05/13 10:21 p.m.

Mike Grefner, 34, a well-known DJ in the popular ski resort town of Whistler, British Columbia, showed up at Garfinkel's nightclub around midnight. About an hour later, he took a taxi to the house of a female friend. He stayed about ten minutes, then left in a taxi (about 1:10 a.m.).

The woman's roommate told the media that Mike, who was drunk, had mentioned losing his wallet. The cab driver reported driving Mike around the village and back to Garfinkel's to pick up his jacket. Mike apparently did not pick up his jacket, but made two phone calls and one text message during this time.
 
At 1:58 a.m., the taxi driver dropped Mike off at his home and walked him to his door. Mike then called a female friend and talked for about 20 minutes. At 2:42, he tried to call a female friend, but there was no answer. He then made a series of calls between 4:02 and 5:15 a.m. (see the timeline), reaching one friend at 5 a.m. and speaking for about 10 minutes. She said he was in good spirits. It is unknown what Mike did or where he went after that.

Friends reported Mike Grefner missing on Wednesday, Jan. 18 when he did not show up for a shift at Whistler’s Maxx Fish nightclub, where he is a resident DJ, known as VS Zero.



Mike Grefner as DJ "VS Zero"

“It’s not possible that he would miss a DJ gig,” friend Robert Gorcak told the Vancouver Sun. “I’ve known him for seven years and that’s not something he would do. He’s meticulous when it comes to things like that. DJing music is his life.”

According to the Sun, "Grefner had been staying at a friend’s place in Whistler while she stayed with her boyfriend. His belongings had been left behind at the home."

"Grefner, who travels between Vancouver and Whistler often for DJ gigs, is a 'super optimist,' said Gorcak. 'He’s a very positive, karma kind of guy.'”

The Search for Mike Grefner

Authorities looked into the possibility that Mike was seen on Tuesday, January 17 sometime between 1 pm and 4 pm in the company of a woman with brown hair, of medium height and medium build at the Mile One café in Pemberton. This sighting has not been confirmed with degree of certainty. RCMP are trying to locate the woman he was reportedly seen with. There is also reason to believe that Mike may have been spotted at the AG Market in Pemberton on Jan. 17.

 Police have confirmed that Mike’s phone was last turned on Tuesday, Jan. 17.

Recovery

On March 14, 2012, Whistler RCMP confirmed that human remains found in the woods by hikers near the Alpine Meadows subdivision on March 10 were those of Mike Grefner. The reamins were discovered around 4:40 p.m. on March 10 near Whistler Secondary School.

Investigators are still looking into what led to Grefner's death, but said that foul play does not appear to be involved.

On November 21, 2012, the BC Coroner's Service released a report stating that Mike Grefner had "ingested a toxic level of cocaine and went outside on one of the coldest nights of the year."

The next day, Pique News Magazine reported:

According to the coroner's report, Grefner's behavior on the night he went missing was consistent with intoxication and some witnesses say he was more intoxicated than they had ever seen him before. He was also not dressed for the weather, which dipped below -20 degrees. He was found wearing shoes, jeans and a long-sleeve shirt.

The exact cause of death is unknown or how much the cold weather contributed, but coroner Isis van Loon wrote that "Toxicology testing showed significant concentrations of cocaine and its byproducts at a high enough level to cause death." As well, low concentrations of alcohol were identified, but it's possible that alcohol played a greater role and the lower concentrations were the result of postmortem changes.

As for the cold, the coroner wrote that "extreme cold was a contributory factor."

Mike Grefner's death has been ruled accidental.

 

Case Details

Name/age: Mike Grefner, 34

Last seen: Jan. 16, 2012, around 12 a.m.

Physical Description: Caucasian, 34 years old, 6' 2" tall with a slim build. He has short curly brown hair, green eyes, an olive complexion, and is clean shaven. He has no tattoos or piercings.

Possibly wearing: Possibly wearing faded jeans with stitched white crosses on back pockets, navy blue T-shirt, black military-style hat.

Investigating Agency: RCMP, 604-932-3044

Links: Find Mike Grefner; Facebook


Sources

Duggan, Evan. (2012, March 14). Human remains in Whistler belonged to missing DJ, police confirm. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 2012.
 
Mitchell, Andrew (2012, November 22). Coroner says drugs contributed to DJ's death. Pique News Magazine. Retrieved February 5, 2013.