An RCMP press conference was held Friday afternoon. What follows is the update they provided on the ongoing investigation into Charles Horvath’s disappearance:
Charles Horvath was last seen on May 26th, 1989 cashing a cheque at the Orchard Park Royal Bank. Denise Allan has been travelling back to Kelowna for years hoping to raise awareness of her son’s disappearance and to stir up any secrets that may lead to the answers she has been searching for all these years.
“Kelowna RCMP will continue to investigate the disappearance of Charles Horvath until the right information is provided and can bring closure to this mystery,” said Cst. Lesley Smith of the Kelowna RCMP. “His belongings, camping tools and personal property was located at the Tiny Town Campground, which was a strong indication to our members that Charles’ disappearance was suspicious in nature. We are hoping that someone who knew Charles Horvath at that time, will come forward with details to his whereabouts and many unanswered questions.”
The RCMP is asking anyone with information to come forward and call Sgt. Paul Gosling of the Kelowna Serious Crime Unit at (250) 762-3300 or if they want to remain anonymous they can call Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net “We don’t want your name, just your information” – Crime Stoppers.
ORIGINAL SEPT. 28, 6 a.m.
It’s has been nearly 30 years since her Charles Horvath-Allan went missing in Kelowna.
For his mom, Denise Horvath-Allan, the anguish over the loss of her son and not knowing what happened to him never dies.
“I need answers, not closure. When you suffer the loss of a child you never have closure,” said Horvath-Allan. “You just want answers.”
She thought her last trip to the Okanagan four years ago would be her last.
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“It was a struggle to get back here for me but things have changed and I’ll be back. A few people have given me the courage and adrenaline to not stop coming back so I will until the day I die.”
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Some of that inspiration came from a meeting she had with Kelowna RCMP, which left her with a combination of frustration and optimism.
The frustration came from six areas police promised to pursue in her visit six years ago which had not been cleared, but a new case officer ensured her this week those investigative leads will be followed up.
In past visits, Horvath-Allan has taken matters into her own hands, knocking on doors to question people she was led to believe might know of the fate of her son, an experience she called at times terrifying. But police have now advised her to step back and let them handle any investigative conversations.
Charles went missing from Kelowna in 1989, when he was just 20 years old.
He had been on a “gap year” backpacking and the investigation into his disappearance has continually failed to reach any conclusions.
Horvath-Allan believes the secret to what happened to her son begins around the old Tiny Town campsite where her son had been staying in a tent, but evidence to solve the mystery disappearance remains elusive.
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She has no doubt that foul play was involved and can’t understand how people who might have information about his disappearance have remained silent.
“I would like to know where he came to rest the day he died, who was responsible and why he died. I don’t care about the rest,” she said.
“I just want to end the nightmare. My mom went to her grave 17 years ago tormented by not knowing what happened to her grandson and watch her daughter drag herself around the world trying to find him.”
Charles’ dad passed away in 2005. He and Denise were divorced 27 years ago.
Horvath-Allan was in Kelowna this week as well to deal with paperwork in Canada and England to legally obtain a Presumption Of Death statement regarding her son , so she can deal with Charles’ outstanding financial affairs.
A memorial service will also be held on Sunday, 9:50 a.m., at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Gordon and Springfield in Kelowna.
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