Today marks the third year since the then 18-year-old Almonré Antovian Ashley Roman stepped into a white VW Kombi at Pick n Pay Despatch and vanished without a trace, leaving behind a family that refuses to surrender hope and a community still searching for answers.
Today, 5 December, marking the third anniversary of his disappearance, his father Wesley Uithaler continues his relentless quest to find his son, driven by an unwavering belief that somewhere, someone knows what happened to the charismatic teenager who dreamed of making it in the entertainment industry. Despite years of investigation, social media campaigns, and countless sleepless nights, the case remains unsolved, but for Uithaler, giving up is not an option.
“A parent never loses hope,” he said two years ago, words that ring even truer today as he faces another anniversary and December holiday without his beloved son.
Speaking to UD Express, Uithaler recalled his last encounter with Roman.
“The morning of the disappearance, he looked disturbed, but we could not figure out what the issue was, though one could tell that there was something bothering him. Someone told us that he went to meet someone at Pick n Pay, and that person confirmed that he picked him up. He just told us that this person made him a promise that he had to see through. He did not give us any details.”
He added that when the family did not hear from him for about two hours, they were worried.
Sharing the type of person his son was, Uithaler described him as a bubbly person.
He always slept at home and let us know of his whereabouts. If he had auditions, he would inform us in advance. All of this did not make sense to us.
On this third anniversary of Roman’s disappearance, he said that December is always a difficult time for the family.
“There is still a void in the family as we are still unclear about his whereabouts. It is difficult to move on, bearing in mind that he is my firstborn. It is always a difficult December for us as he is still missing after three years.”
He added that all the leads regarding his child’s whereabouts went nowhere.
Uithaler said that the relationship he has had with law enforcement has been very transparent.
“They always let me know when there were any developments in the case, and any leads, which I truly appreciated. If there is any new development, they let us know, which hasn’t been the case in a while now.”
In a plea to the public, he said, “If you have any information, no matter how insignificant you may think it is, please share with me on 078 452 9380. A lot of people message me on Facebook about potential leads, which I welcome. Their information will remain confidential, and they can remain anonymous.”
He added that in this tough time, prayer motivates him to continue searching and remain hopeful that he and his son will be reunited once more.
Closure is the only way that we can move on. I am open to any information I will get about him. Whether he is alive or not. As long as I get to see him or know what happened, only then will I have closure and be able to move on.
With a tinge of joy and laughter, remembering the memories of Almonré that brought him the most comfort during difficult times, he said it was the phone calls they shared together that he missed most.
“I miss how we used to chat and the time we spent together. How we used to visit my parents in Humansdorp every December, and how we interacted with our family as well – he was the life of the party. It is a time we all miss and treasure. I miss how he could light up a room, just being his talkative self.”
To parents who may be going through the same thing, Uithaler said, “Don’t lose hope, never quit looking for your child. Also, do not forget the memories, whether they are pleasant or not. Do not ever give up on your child.”
Concluding with a message to his son, he said with a heavy heart, “Son, we love you and we never gave up on you and always believed in your dreams. The stand-up comedy shows you would organise and your dreams of being an actor, we did and always will support you. We truly miss you,” he said with emotion.
In a message to the public, he sighed heavily and said, “Imagine this was your child. Any piece of information could be very vital. If there are any other incidents like this, I want you to report them. Imagine Almonré as your own, because it could happen to anyone. Please reach out to me.”
The case is being investigated by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks.
Their spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, shared that in December 2022, the matter was taken by the Hawks for further investigation.
“The missing person case became a kidnapping/ransom case, as a ransom demand was reportedly made, making it a Hawks mandate. There was one arrest made in February 2023 but the matter is still under investigation.”
The Hawks would not divulge any more information.
“At the moment, we have no new developments. We do, however, request members of the public to assist with credible information about the matter,” Mhlakuvana concluded.
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