The mother of a 25-year-old man who went missing after leaving an office Christmas party in December announced a $10,000 reward Wednesday for information leading to the whereabouts of her son.
Danny Huszar, the mother of Matthew Huszar, stood with her husband Rod and daughter Rachael on Water Street in Gastown Wednesday morning to make the announcement to reporters.
"There has been no evidence a crime was committed, no evidence of suicide, no evidence that he disappeared voluntarily-basically no evidence of anything," she said. "We are very frustrated and frightened by the lack of any information whatsoever."
The location of the press conference was significant because it was where Huszar was last seen around midnight Dec. 16.
He and friends left an office Christmas party and went to the Lamplighter Pub at 92 Water St. But, his mother said, Huszar chose not to stay because the lineup was too long to get into the pub.
"He said his goodbyes, wished his colleagues a Merry Christmas and headed east on Water Street at around midnight," Danny said. "He has not been seen or heard from since. According to friends, he was not intoxicated and was in a good frame of mind."
Danny said she spoke to her son earlier that afternoon and he told her he was excited to return to Vancouver Island to be spend Christmas with his family.
His girlfriend was flying in after Christmas and they planned to go skiing during the holidays before returning to work at Pretium Resources, where he worked in mining exploration.
"His bags were packed and he was ready to go," she said. "I was to pick him up in Victoria the next day and he never showed up."
He was staying with a friend on Commercial Drive, his father said, at the time of his disappearance. His sister Rachael said it is totally uncharacteristic of her brother to be without contact for such a long time.
"There was nothing going on at all," she said, wiping tears. "I just want to know that he's safe because I'm afraid that he's hurt and can't come home, because I know he would come home."
Huszar graduated from the University of B.C. in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science degree in honours geology. He spent last summer and the fall doing exploration field work near Stewart, B.C.
"He is excited about his career, is well respected by his supervisors and peers and is looking forward to advancing with the company," his mother said. "He is a confirmed 'rockhead' who loves the challenge and thrill of the find."
He had recently purchased a sailboat to restore and planned to one day sail around the world, his mother said.
Const. Jana McGuinness, a media liaison officer with the Vancouver Police Department, said the police have no leads but are encouraging with anyone with information on the disappearance of Huszar to contact police.
Huszar is five-foot-11, 175 pounds, shoulder length dark brown hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing black dress pants, a white and blue checkered shirt, black shoes and a dark green tweed three-quarter length coat.
Twitter: @Howellings
