A dad's desperate plea for help to find son with autism last seen in Kamloops | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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A dad's desperate plea for help to find son with autism last seen in Kamloops

Trevor Quinton, 22, was last seen on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, after he was discharged from the hospital.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/RCMP

The father of a young man with autism who went missing in Kamloops almost two weeks ago is appealing to the public for help.

Ron Quinton lives and works in Grand Prairie but has been in Kamloops for several days searching for his son Trevor Quinton, 20, who was last seen leaving the hospital on Nov. 25.

“I’m doing everything in my power to find him, sleeping in my truck and hiking around the bush,” Ron said. “It has been too long, he needs water, hypothermia is a concern.”

Ron has been searching the streets, homeless shelters, pot shops, gas stations and libraries but hasn't found any clues on his son’s whereabouts.

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He described his son a very kind person and very approachable, but Trevor’s autism diagnosis means he might not be verbal, or he may shy away from conversation depending on the day.

Trevor has never gone missing before and due to his condition has never had a job. Ron said he “rarely spends time outside his bedroom,” a cause for more concern.

“He does go out and hikes a little, and if he wants something badly enough he’ll go to a shop and buy it. He doesn’t know how to fend for himself, especially around people he doesn’t know.”

Ron lost his home in Elkford due to a court case six months ago, then went to Alberta to work. He didn’t have a place for Trevor to stay so he set him up with a friend in Kamloops. Trevor’s brother also lives in Kamloops. Ron hasn’t spoken with his son since then.

“I was trying to give him space and help him to get on his own because I had nowhere for him to stay.”

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Ron isn’t exactly clear what transpired the day Trevor was last seen or why his son ended up at the hospital, but he has a rough idea of the events.

“Apparently he took his bags and my friend came home and he was gone,” Ron said. “Trevor ended up at the hospital. At some point police brought back the bags but not the boy.

"The hospital didn’t call my other son, the emergency contact, before discharging him. They sent him to a shelter with a cab voucher and of course being autistic, Trevor bolted. That is the last story we have from police.”

This photo from Kamloops RCMP shows what Trevor Quinton of Kamloops was seen wearing before he went missing on Nov. 25.
This photo from Kamloops RCMP shows what Trevor Quinton of Kamloops was seen wearing before he went missing on Nov. 25.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kamloops RCMP

The young man doesn't have his cell phone with him as it was found with his returned bags.

Ron and his girlfriend started putting up flyers about the disappearance around town today.

“I’m a desperate father searching anywhere there is water or a warm place,” Ron said. “If there is any information or sightings, please call the police. Trevor, Dad will find a place for you, please come home.”

"Police continue to look for Trevor and any information about his whereabouts," Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Crystal Evelyn said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.

Quinton is described by police as Caucasian male, standing 6’2” tall and weighing 170 lb. He has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2023-41948.

— This article was updated at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, to add second photo of Trevor Quinton and statement from Kamloops RCMP. 


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