The family of a missing 38-year-old father and husband who never came home Monday night made a tearful plea to the public for his safe return in a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
York Regional Police Det. Patrick Brown told reporters that Eugene Kim was last seen Monday at around 7 a.m. at his family’s home in the area of Bayview Avenue and Royal Orchard Boulevard.
Eugene’s brother, Sean Kim, said Eugene texted his wife that night at around 9 p.m. saying he’d be home in an hour. When an hour passed, he said he’d be home soon, but then never showed up. The family reported him missing the next morning.
Brown said police traced Eugene’s last cellphone usage to a cell tower in the North Bay Area and that he had purchased a day permit to a nearby Algonquin park for that same day. Park staff said there could have been a possible sighting Tuesday but police have no indication whether Eugene ever entered or left the park.
Officers from two separate OPP detachments as well as North Bay police are assisting with the investigation and are searching Algonquin park campgrounds. Sean said family members will be making the trip to help in the search as well.
Sean said Eugene has no connection to the North Bay area, but that he did used to enjoy camping.
“We are very worried about him. It is not like him to not contact family or miss work,” Sean said. “He does not have a history of any illness and we cannot think of why he would walk away from his family or disappear in the manner that he has.”
Sean said Eugene is a “creature of habit” with “strong family values” and has a daily routine that includes getting his children ready for school and daycare every morning “without fail.”
Brown said there has been nothing so far to indicate foul play or any sort of criminal offence.
Kim is described as being 5’9″, 185 lbs with black hair.
He’s been married to his wife Christine for nine years and has a six-year-old son and two-year-old daughter.
“Please come home to us. We can’t live without you,” she said, trying to hold back her tears.
He was last seen driving a black Nissan Rogue with the licence plate BJJD 108.
Anyone with information is asked to call York Regional Police at 1866-876-5423 ext. 7241 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).