Family of man last seen in Langley a decade ago pleads for tips

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – It’s been 10 years since a man was last seen in Langley and today, his family is turning to the public for help to find him.

Police admit tips into the suspicious disappearance of Kellen McElwee have dried up in the case.

McElwee was last seen on March 19, 2008, leaving the parking lot of The Keg restaurant on 202 Street. Kellen’s car was found six days later, abandoned, on Halifax Street near Springer Avenue in Burnaby.

A decade later, his mother Paula says she would do anything to have him back.

“The last 10 years have not been easy for our family. Kellen would now have been 35 years old. He might have been married and he might have had children who we will never get to meet. We would like to bring Kellen home.”

She adds he had the widest smile and the kindest heart.

“We never thought he would disappear off the face of the world without a goodbye. 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.”

Police think there was foul play in Kellen’s disappearance, but say there’s nothing connecting Kellen to gangs or the drug trade.

“At this point, we’re unclear as to the motive. That’s one of the things that we’re trying to work on,” says Corporal Frank Jang with the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team.

“We’ve spoken to Kellen’s friends and associates — some of them. But we believe that there’s more of them out there… if they were reluctant to speak 10 years ago, maybe they’ve had a change of heart.”

“With IHIT, unsolved homicides are never closed,” he adds. “We continue to pursue all investigations… Until the case is solved, nothing is boxed. Nothing is closed. There is no such thing as a ‘closed case’ at IHIT, unless we’ve solved it, someone’s been arrested, someone’s been [made accountable] for their actions.”

The family is hoping someone can come forward with information that could reignite the investigation.

“Perhaps over the years you have heard rumours or stories about what happened to Kellen,” says Paula. “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. We would be eternally grateful if you are able to provide the police with any information.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the IHIT Information Line at 1-877-551-IHIT (4448), or by email at ihitinfo@rcmp-grc.gc.ca. You can stay anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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