Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2012020004) and
1 other sourceOn a late afternoon in September 2011, a 74-year-old man named Jafar Imenpour, a retired school teacher visiting family from his native Iran, left for a brief walk in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. He told his loved ones he would only be gone for about fifteen minutes. It was just after 5:00 p.m. on September 25th when Mr. Imenpour, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, stepped out into the Toronto Street area and vanished.
He was unfamiliar with the area, spoke no English, and had no wallet, money, or phone with him at the time of his disappearance. He was last seen wearing a dark blue baseball hat, a black jacket, blue jeans, and black running shoes, along with his glasses.
The family’s concern grew quickly, and an extensive search was launched by the Coquitlam RCMP and local Search and Rescue teams, who scoured the streets of north Port Coquitlam. Despite their immediate and thorough efforts, no trace of Mr. Imenpour was found. His family described him as being very happy to be in Canada for his visit. Though he did not have a history of dementia, there was a concern that he may not have been taking his heart medication, which could have led to confusion or disorientation. In the days and weeks that followed, his family's desperation grew, prompting them to offer a $5,000 reward for any information that might lead to his location. Family members even flew in from Iran and Europe to help with the search effort.
As time stretched on, the family and police made public pleas for information. Initially, there were no tips from the public, but after a press conference featuring Mr. Imenpour's son, a few leads began to trickle in, though none led to a breakthrough. A year after he was last seen, the Coquitlam RCMP renewed their appeal to the public, acknowledging the terrible toll the uncertainty had taken on the Imenpour family. Every lead that came in was investigated, but the case grew cold, leaving his loved ones without answers. The disappearance of Jafar Imenpour remains an unsolved case, a painful mystery for a family left waiting for the return of a beloved elder who went for a short walk and never came home.Last Seen: Sep 25, 2011
