PARKSVILLE — It has been six months since Australian Owen Kiernan Rooney, disappeared after leaving a hospital in Grand Forks, but even though the family has to head home soon, they haven’t given up the search for their son.
Rooney was last seen at the Grand Forks Hospital on Aug. 14, 2010 at approximately 8 p.m. sitting just outside the hospital on a picnic table. Owen left the hospital alone leaving behind all his belongings and has not been seen since.
Tips, including some from Parksville, have been followed up, but police say all their leads have gone dry.
Rooney is described as being five feet, nine inches in height and 161 pounds with blue eyes, short brown hair and two tattoos.
The tattoos include one on his left shoulder blade of a circle with a Celtic star around it and one on his right calf, a logo of a triangle with a kangaroo inside and the words “Australian Made” underneath.
RCMP Corporal Dan Moskaluk said the Rooney family has been in B.C. since their son disappeared and have tirelessly campaigned for leads, including setting up a website (www.find-owen.com) and a Facebook page (Help Find Owen Rooney).
Owen’s mother, Sharron Rooney, would like to thank all the communities in B.C. and Alberta where they have passed through in search of their son.
“The support from Canadians in B.C. and Alberta has been overwhelming and very much appreciated,” she said. “We would like to encourage everyone to go to our website to obtain Owen’s photo to post on bulletin boards in public locations or online.”
Anyone with information regarding Rooney’s whereabouts or any details on his disappearance, however insignificant, is asked to contact the Grand Forks RCMP at 250-442-8288, the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111, Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or through the website that the family has set up. — The News
