Kelowna

More than two weeks since Kelowna resident Owen Kiernan Rooney, 24, vanished from Grand Forks, his family has not given up hope.

"It is time to come home," says Sharron Rooney, pleading for information regarding her son's whereabouts.

Sharron and her husband Steve Rooney flew from Australia 13 days ago to assist in the search.

Along with their daughters Kelly and Bree, the family has been placing posters throughout the Southern Interior hoping someone will remember something.

"We've been everywhere I think. Between Kelowna and Nelson we've been trying to cover every town that we possibly could," says Rooney.

Despite all the posters and RCMP missing person notifications, not a single lead has been uncovered.

"Nothing -- absolutely nothing -- from anywhere or any source," says Rooney.

"No clues to look for, nothing. We've had absolutely no word at all. It is very mystifying."

The disappearance, she says, is out of the ordinary for Owen, who routinely communicates with his family via Facebook.

Owen's email, Facebook, bank account and credit cards have not been used.

As the family retraces his last steps, they can not understand what caused him to disappear.

They know Owen had attended the Shambhala music festival in Salmo, and was on his way back to Kelowna.

Police picked him up hitchhiking near Christina Lake, after noticing he had bruising on his face.

Sharron says she doesn't know where the bruising, believed to be two black eyes, came from.

"He never had a fight in his life. He knew how to stay out of trouble."

Owen was taken to the Grand Forks hospital for a checkup, where he told the doctor he was heading home, says Sharron.

On Saturday, August 14, at approximately 8 p.m. he was seen sitting on a picnic table outside the hospital.

After that, he vanished.

He left his belongings behind at the hospital.

Owen is 5'9" and weighs 161 lbs.

He has short brown hair and two tattoos.

One tattoo is on his shoulder, a circle with a Celtic star around it.

A second tattoo on his right calf is of the 'Australian made' logo, a kangaroo in a triangle.

He was last seen wearing a dark t-shirt and 3/4 length shorts.

Police are requesting anyone who may have seen Rooney to contact the Grand Forks Office at 250-442-8288, their local police services or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.