SURREY —
The family of a Surrey man who went missing 10 years ago hopes the public can help “find his remains.”
Police suspect foul play in Kellen McElwee’s disappearance on March 19, 2008 and it’s being considered a murder.
Kellen, who grew up in Surrey and has no criminal record, went missing after having dinner with friends at the Keg in Langley. No one has been arrested or charged in this case.
McElwee, age 25 when he went missing, didn’t show up the next day at the Rogers call centre where he worked as a trainer. Several days later McElwee’s bronze 2006 Honda Civic was found abandoned on a residential street in Burnaby, a few blocks from his apartment where he lived alone.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team and McElwee’s family ask anyone with information to come forward.
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| Corporal Frank Jang, media relations officer for IHIT. (Photo: Tom Zytaruk) |
Corporal Frank Jang, of IHIT, was asked at a press conference in Surrey on Thursday why police believe he was murdered.
“We don’t have his remains,” he replied. “It’s suspicious because what we know of his background, while speaking with his friends and associates and family, it’s completely out of the norm for Kellen – we’re treating this as a suspicious missing person homicide because, after ten years, where is Kellen? We’ve pursued every avenue. He’s completely disappeared.”
“We don’t believe he committed suicide,” Jang said. “He didn’t have suicidal tendencies, from what I understand.”
Jang also said is respect to McElwee that they have found “no conclusive links” to drugs or crime.
McElwee’s mom and dad, Paula and Len McElwee, read a statement at the press conference, at the RCMP “E” Division Headquarters in Green Timbers, but did not take questions.
See more: Langley parents want to bring their son’s body home
Paula McElwee said her son had a normal childhood, and was involved in hockey at a young age as well as baseball. She said he was a good student all through school and excelled in mathematics.
“He had the widest smile and the kindest heart. He was very unassuming but he had his own opinions and stood up for his beliefs. Kellen was a driven and passionate young man when he was faced with a challenge or a friend needed help,” she said.
Her son was just beginning a new chapter of his life teaching marketing skills and loved the interaction and the challenge his students presented, she noted. He did not have a criminal record.
“We never thought he would disappear off the face of the world without a goodbye,” she said. “He did not act stressed or fearful for his life. Kellen had many friends from different times in his life and never seemed to have any difficulties interacting with any of them.
“The last 10 years have not been easy for our family. Kellen would now have been 35 years old. He might have married and he might have had children who we will never get to meet. We would like to bring Kellen home,” she told reporters.
“At this time, we would like to ask for anyone who may have information about Kellen’s death to please contact IHIT. Perhaps over the years you have heard rumours or stories about what happened to Kellen. Perhaps you saw something on Facebook or another social media site about what happened to Kellen, but you thought the police must know about that so you never said anything.”
She said her family would be “eternally grateful” to those who provide the police with information.
“Please bear in mind no information is irrelevant and you may remain anonymous,” she noted.
“We are making this appeal particularly to those who knew Kellen and may have valuable information that can help the police solve his murder and find his remains. Kellen’s presence will always remain with family and friends. We hope this public plea will help bring Kellen and our family the justice he deserves.”
Anyone with information is asked to call the IHIT tip line at 1-877-551-4448 or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
