Mom granted death certificate for son who went missing in Kelowna 31 years ago

Charles Horvath-Allan, the young man who disappeared while travelling in Kelowna 31 years ago, is now officially dead in his home country of England.

Master Karen Shuman presided over the Presumption of Death Certificate application in the Royal Courts of Justice Chancery Division of London, England. His mom, Denise Horvath Allan was granted the certificate by Shuman Aug. 14.

In an earlier interview, Horvath Allan said she’s been working toward getting the certificate for three years so she can deal with her son’s financial matters.

It was a process she described as “soul-destroying.”

While she’s long since acknowledged his death, she has been hoping for an opportunity to lay her son to rest, find some information that may lead to the discovery of his remains and put an end to all the questions about what happened in his final days.

It’s something she’s worked toward for years and remembering Charles and simply making sure others don't forget him either, is a driving force in her life.

Charles was on a “gap year” backpacking in Canada when he stopped in Kelowna and was last seen on May 26, 1989 cashing a cheque at the Orchard Park Royal Bank.

He’d been living at the old Tiny Town campsite in a tent, and it's there she believes the secrets to his disappearance are kept.

“A witness contacted me to say that they lived at Tiny Tent Town Campsite and RV Park at 3316 Lakeshore Rd. in the ‘90s,” she said, in a recent interview. “They said it was common knowledge that Charles had been killed at Tiny Town, was weighted down with cinder blocks and dumped in Okanagan Lake.”

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.

His belongings, camping tools, and personal property was located there and that’s why the RCMP say the disappearance was suspicious in nature.

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 you want to remain anonymous you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave an online tip at www.crimestoppers.net.

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