29 years after son vanished, mother just wants to know
Denise Allan says she’s not after justice in 1989 suspected killing of Charles Horvath, only answers
After almost 30 torturous years, Denise Allan is no longer after vengeance or justice in the death of her son, Charles Horvath.
She simply wants answers so she can work through her decades-long grief and have some sort of closure.
“I know that someone murdered Charles (while he was in Kelowna in 1989),” she said in a soft voice at a news conference Friday at Kelowna RCMP headquarters.
“His remains are out there somewhere. I know there are people out there in Kelowna who know what happened to Charles and are afraid to come forward. I’m appealing to them personally.”
Allan stressed she doesn’t have to know who the killer or killers are, or who provides information.
Anyone with answers can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or CrimeStoppers.net.
“I’ll never understand what my son did to deserve such a violent end, but I want you to know I forgive you,” said Allan, keeping her composure.
“I no longer seek vengeance or justice. I just seek answers. Help me put my son to rest beside his nana in Cambridge, England.”
Allan travelled from London, England, to be in Kelowna all week, speaking with police who are handling her son’s file now and those who have worked on it in the past.
She’s also placing the required notices in local newspapers announcing her intention to file the application to have her son presumed dead at the High Court in London.
At the news conference, Allan spoke to media from a room with a photo of Horvath projected on a big screen behind her.
The Charles Horvath case has resonated in Kelowna since May 26, 1989, the day he vanished without a trace.
Most people reported missing forget to check in with loved ones and are found quickly, safe and sound.
But, with the Horvath case, no one is any closer now to finding him than on the day he disappeared.
At age 20, Horvath left his home in England to backpack across Canada.
He arrived in Kelowna in May of 1989 and secured accommodation beside Gyro Beach at Tiny Town Campground (now a parking lot).
He landed a job at the Flintstone theme park, which is long gone.
Allan was last in contact with her son on May 11, 1989, when she received a fax from him.
He cashed a Flintstone paycheque at Royal Bank near Orchard Park mall on May 26.
That would be the last anyone saw or heard from him.
When Horvath didn’t contact his mom to finalize arrangements to meet her in Hong Kong, she reported him missing.
That was the beginning of almost three decades of pleas from Allan to find out what happened to her son.
She’s made numerous trips to Kelowna to drum up leads, worked closely with local police, sought media coverage to keep her son’s name in the news and started the SearchForCharles.com website.
There probably isn’t anyone who follows the news in Kelowna who doesn’t know Charles Horvath’s name. He’s the young Englishman who disappeared into thin air.
People don’t simply vanish, especially in usually safe Kelowna.
Allan said one of the strongest leads in the case is also one of the first.
“On May 19, 1989, when Charles was at Tiny Town, 75 bikers from the U.S. on their way to party at the Falkland Stampede stopped at the campground,” she said.
“There was someone who said something about a polite Englishman being killed by a biker trying to earn a gang patch. I know something terrible happened to him. He was a six-foot-tall, handsome young man who thought he was worldly. But, sadly, he was a dreamer. He was naive. He’d believe anything anyone told him.” Allan was last in Kelowna in 2015. As a result of her visit, a lead came in, suggesting Horvath hasn’t become a cold case because there are still answers out there.
In ill health and nearly broke, Allan said at the time it would be her last trip to Kelowna.
She had a change of heart this year when friends raised money to buy her a plane ticket.
“I just had to come,” she said.
“I will now never stop coming back to Kelowna until I find out what happened to my handsome young son. I will never give up. Presumed dead is not like a death. It’s an ambiguous loss and the pain never ends, no matter how many years go by.”
In a life of shock, denial, pain, guilt, anger, bargaining, depression, loneliness and never-ending grief, one of Allan’s only sources of solace is the Missing People Choir. Made up of people who have a missing family member, its members meet monthly in London to sing and find empathy. The choir also sang on the TV reality show Britain’s Got Talent.
Kelowna RCMP continue to investigate the Horvath case, according to Const. Lesley Smith.
“His belongings, camping tools and personal property was located at Tiny Town Campground, which is a strong indication to our members that Charles’ disappearance was suspicious in nature,” she said.
“We are hoping someone who knew Charles Horvath at that time will come forward with details to his whereabouts and many unanswered questions.”
Anyone with any information can also call Sgt. Paul Gosling at 250-762-3300.
I will now never stop coming back to Kelowna until I find out what happened to my handsome young son. I will never give up. Denise Allan