Sister pleads with public to be on lookout for missing West Kelowna man

A William’s Lake woman is pleading with the public to keep an eye out for her brother, who went missing over a week ago from his home in West Kelowna.

Aleesha Joanne said she is worried sick, and falling apart mentally, after her younger brother seemingly disappeared wearing only pyjama bottoms and a T-shirt. She recently started sharing more details and photos of her brother to increase awareness.

James Wood, 27, was last seen at around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, leaving his home in the 2000 block of Peters Road on foot.

READ MORE: RCMP ask for help in locating missing West Kelowna man

“I am very sad and extremely worried,” Joanne said. “This is the second time he has gone missing. I did not want to share the details of how we found him after the first time but I feel it is necessary in order to fully explain the extreme risk of this situation.”

The first time her brother went missing it was in warmer weather at the end of August of this year and Wood was found and brought to the hospital after three days. She believes her brother was the victim of a predator who harmed him during that time.

“When I went to see him I was startled by his appearance,” she said. “He had stopped washing and eating and he told me he was in physical pain, that he had tears all over his body and holes in his muscles. It was real to him. His mental and physical condition continued to deteriorate. We believe he may have schizophrenia but have not received that diagnosis yet."

READ MORE: West Kelowna residents asked to check their properties as search for missing man continues

On the day he went missing, her brother was distraught and anxious about an upcoming hospital visit.

The search for her brother began on Nov. 9.

“The sad thing is my brother has no friends so there are very few of us looking for him,” she said. “He has been isolated and despondent for years. As of recently he could barely feed himself or wash. He was having outbursts and at one point abusing alcohol. It is hell inside his head and I don’t how to help.”

Joanne is asking the public to share her story and photos of her missing brother between Williams Lake, where she lives, and Kelowna in the event he tried hitchhiking to get to her.

“I am obviously quite sensitive to this and would rather not share such personal details of a family member,” she said. “But I'm terrified someone will hurt him again or he has hurt himself. I believe he can have a happy life with therapy, medication and treatment. He is cared about, I miss my brother, I hope to bring him home.

“If you see him, please call the RCMP with the file number 21-73629. He may not be coherent, but a sighting would bring a lot of hope.”

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