Keremeos parents, RCMP looking for missing youth

The early morning disappearance of two Keremeos youth has their parents pleading for their safe return this afternoon.

Marilyn Tallio issued a plea on Facebook for the safe return of her son, Noah Mountain, 17, who left the house early this morning with Mia Aiyana Holmes, 12, also from Keremeos. Mia’s mother, Brianne Stewart, also posted to social media asking family and friends to keep an eye out for the pair.

Tallio says her son was at the bank at 3:45 a.m. today, Feb. 8, in Keremeos prior to leaving.

She believes her son and Mia are headed for the Lower Mainland. They had a full tank of gas when they left.

Brianne Stewart says she hasn’t heard anything from the two as of 4 p.m. this afternoon. She said both her daughter’s and Noah’s cell phone had been wiped clean and left at their respective homes.

“We have no means to contact them with at this point,” Tallio says.

Stewart says the families are just trying to get the message out as much as possible, placing posters throughout Keremeos. He only has a learner’s licence.

The two made plans to depart over social media, Stewart believes, as her daughter was being home schooled due to COVID-19. She says the pair’s leaving was pre-planned and mutually agreed upon by the two.

There was no kidnapping or foul play of that nature involved.

“He’s 17, so he’s quite a bit older than her. There was contact before but both his mom Marilyn and I said, ‘no, too much of an age gap’ and we put a stop to that, but I guess they’re telling us they aren’t going to listen,” Stewart says.

The pair left in a blue 2004 Nissan Maxima, B.C. licence plate LC173M.

“What we are most worried about now is his inexperience driving in winter conditions, with them in a hurry to get someplace and finding themselves in a situation.” she says.

The two are believed to have several hundred dollars between them.

Missing persons reports were filed by both parents this morning.

“He’s got family and ties to the coast. He had been asking about Bella Coola and the ferry, we’re from Vernon and Hedley and we’re hoping they turn up somewhere they know,” she says.

RCMP issued a request for public assistance this afternoon, describing Mia Holmes as an Indigenous woman, 5'4" tall and 141 lbs. with black hair and brown eyes.

Police are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact them at 250-499-2500, or call 911.

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