Charles Horvath
Real Name: Karoly John Horvath-Allan
Nicknames: "Charles"
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Date: 1989
Bio
Occupation: Student
Date Of Birth: August 21, 1968
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Marital Status: Single
Characteristics: Dark brown eyes and hair with skull tattoo on right arm
Case
Details: Charles Horvath was born August 21, 1968 in Cochenour, Ontario, Canada. He was a resident of England who planned to work and hitchhike across Canada and visit his natural father, Max A. K. Horvath Sr., and his godfather in Ontario, both of whom are now deceased.
On May 11, 1989 Charles sent what was to be his final letter home from Roche Stationers, Kelowna to his mother in Yorkshire, England by fax, re meeting up with mother and step father, Stuart, for his 21st birthday and his mother's 40th birthday.
When Charles failed to contact his mother to finalize their arrangements, Denise Horvath-Allan reported him officially missing on August 10, 1989 to the Kelowna Detachment RCMP, then mounted a search for him across the world placing advertisements in local and provincial newspapers prior to her first trek across Canada accompanied by her husband, Stuart Allan, joined later by "Charles" Nana Austin-Thorpe and Step Grandfather Tony Thorpe.
The Zebroff family contacted Denise Horvath-Allan via the Kelowna Detachment of the RCMP after recognizing his name in the local advertisement stating they had met Charles in the late Spring while he was in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada and allowed him to temporary stay at their family home. They last saw Charles in the LiveWire Nightclub in August 1989. Charles registered at the Gospel Mission and stayed at The Sherwoods and the Vernon Gordon family homes.
In the middle of May 1989, he registered at Tiny Tent Town on Lakeshore Road in Kelowna where Gordy Happ helped Charles put up his tent which had been given to him by the LighthouseOutreach Charity. Job Mart and other student employment agencies were frequented by Charles and other residents of Tiny Town, Eugene Bourdin, Graham Ledingham and Chad Duncan in search of work.
When Charles disappeared, his tent, sleeping bag and all his possessions, including his clothes, personal belongings, ID and family photographs, were left behind at Tiny Tent Town. These personal items were used by others at Tiny Tent Town. The 1989 manager, Phil Flett, told Denise Horvath-Allan that Charles' belongings had been thrown away except for a rosary, Bible and leather strap from Charles' boot.
The Kelowna Detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police later retrieved his clothing and other belongings from Kevin Trent Egan and former manageress, Sheila Neihaus. In March 1992, Denise Horvath-Allan on her second trek to Canada from England in search of Charles received an anonymous letter delivered to the Pandosy Inn by cab. The anonymous note claimed that Charles KJ Horvath had been knocked out by two men at Tiny Tent Town and died; his body dumped in Okanagan Lake.
Local Kelowna Volunteer Divers and International Sea Search from Vancouver, aided with a submersible camera (costing $1,000 per day) and ISS Volunteer Crew searched the area around the floating bridge when a second anonymous note was received, stating that they were searching on the wrong side of the bridge.
On the fifth day of the search, the Kelowna RCMP Divers officially joined the underwater search and on the sixth day, Friday, April 3 at 10:14 am, International Sea Search located human remains and telephoned the Kelowna RCMP who arrived at the scene at 10:17 am. The Kelowna RCMP Police divers went into Okanagan Lake, bagged the body and brought it to the surface around noon. The following Monday, the Male remains were taken to Vancouver British Columbia Canada where they were discovered not to be the remains of Charles Horvath. Whether the witness testimony was mistaken or if Charles body is still in the lake is unknown.
Suspects: No known suspects
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the January 12, 1994 episode.
Results: Unsolved
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