KAMLOOPS — 17-year-old Aislynn Hanson disappeared from a Kamloops medical facility on Feb. 20, and hasn’t been heard from since.
The Summerland teen has run away before, but her grandmother says this time it’s different.
Arlene Hanson is growing increasingly concerned for Aislynn’s safety, as it’s been over a month since she vanished from Hillside Psychiatric Centre.
“Everything was fine during the day,” Hanson said. “She was working with the nurses, and she started hovering by the entrance door at a certain point, and when another resident was coming in she pushed past. “That’s all we know.”
Hanson raised Aislynn from childhood. Now, unsure where her granddaughter is, her concern is mounting.
“When she’s been in this environment, it’s not like her to just disappear. Especially in an area or a place she doesn’t know anybody. I’m really, really fearful for her.”
However, RCMP Cpl. Jodi Shelkie says this isn’t the first time Aislynn has been reported missing.
“She has left before, for about this length of time, and so that’s concerning to us,” Shelkie said. “We’re hoping that she does come back sooner than later as she did before, but it is concerning, just because we haven’t heard anything from her in this last month.”
It’s that lack of communication that is most worrying for Hanson.
“In the past she has reached out or people have seen her,” Hanson said. “There’s been contact. She’s never gone like this. This is like she’s just disappeared.”
Aislynn was spotted in the Kamloops area on Feb. 24, four days after her initial disappearance.
“She was accessing a community resource at that time,” said Cpl. Jodi Shelkie, “but since Feb. 24 there haven’t been any sightings of her at all.”
Now, Arlene Hanson has this plea for her granddaughter:
“Aislynn, just please contact us. We want you safe. Call the RCMP, just whatever you feel you need to do to come home. Be safe. We love you and we don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Aislynn is described as:
If you know where she is, contact Kamloops RCMP or your local police detachment.
— With files from Global Okanagan
