Parents of a Coquitlam man who is being sought under the BC Mental Health Act made an appeal to the public Wednesday, June 5 at a Coquitlam RCMP press conference.
With photos of their missing son in front of them, Ron and Darlene McAuley pleaded for information about Ryan McAuley, 34, who was last seen at 10 a.m. Feb. 15, 2019 when his image was captured on a video camera at a store on the 11000-block of 200 Street in Maple Ridge.
“Ryan, if you are listening to this, please come home. Your family misses you, loves you and wants you back home,” Ron McAuley said.
Ryan McAuley, who had late onset schizophrenia at the age of 29, was living at Cypress Lodge on the Riverview Hospital grounds when he went missing.
His mother, Darlene, said her son is intelligent, quiet and speaks well but struggles with an illness that sometimes overwhelms him. This isn’t the first time he has gone missing, although in the past, hints about his whereabouts have allowed his family to find him.
He was attending university at the time of his diagnosis, his mom said.
“When he’s gone missing in the past, he has hitchhiked his way as far as Alberta, Manitoba and even Ontario,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of the Coquitlam RCMP, adding that the missing man is not believed to be a danger to the public.
Since McAuley went missing in February, Coquitlam RCMP said it has activated its Missing Persons Unit. Officers have completed regular checks at hospitals and shelters; monitored border crossings; taken DNA samples; checked in with taxi services; and reviewed phone, social media and banking information.
So far, said Coquitlam RCMP, Ryan McAuley hasn’t left a trace.
The family hopes he can be found before his birthday, which is June 22.
“We hope that will spur him [to contact us],” Darlene McAuley said.
Ryan McAuley is a 34-year-old Caucasian man with light brown hair; he is six feet tall, weighs about 240 lb. and wears glasses.
“He does need his medications, he does need help. We need to know Ryan is safe,” McLaughlin said.
If you have seen Ryan McAuley or have information that would help police find him, call Coquitlam RCMP tip line at 1-877-687-3377, quote file number 2019-4952.
