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Writer's pictureTerynn Boulton

Kenley Matheson - September 21, 1992 - Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Please check back frequently, as I will be posting a series of in-depth articles that delve into the details/timeline/statements of the last people to see Kenley, etc. Thank you for your continued support and engagement.


As Renee Matheson posted in the Finding Kenley Facebook page: "Today marks 32 years since Kenley went missing from Acadia University. I am asking everyone to please share and light up Facebook for KENLEY. The missing and the murdered can only be at the forefront of the RCMP priorities if we stand united to fight and be an active voice for loved ones.....Kenley Matheson missing since September 21, 1992."


Kenley Matheson
Kenley Matheson

Allan Kenley Matheson, who went by his middle name, has been missing since September 21, 1992. He was only two weeks into his first year at Acadia University, located in the town of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada intending to major in Biology. His younger sister, Kayrene, was also in her first year at Acadia University. The siblings, who were often mistaken for twins, both lived on campus, but in different residences. They also shared a calculus class together at 8:30 am on Tuesday and Thursdays.




Kenley and Kayrene grew up in Glendale, Cape Breton. At the time of his disappearance, Kenley was 20 years old and Kayrene was 18.

Kenley family home in Glendale, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Back of family home in Glendale - Kayrene and Kenley's bedroom windows

On Friday, September 11, Kenley Matheson, Kirsten Tomlinson, and Tom Gordon travelled to Tomlinson's home on Corkum's Island in Lunenburg County to spend the weekend jetskiing and exploring Nova Scotia's beautiful South Shore. The three had met shortly after arriving at Acadia. All three lived on campus. Kenley and Tom both lived on the 9th floor of Crowell Tower - Kenley in room 904 and Tom in room 915. The three friends returned to Wolfville on Sunday, September 13, 1992.

Kenley walking near the Tomlinson home. Most reports say he was wearing his Lakers hat when he went missing, however, police say that it was returned to them in February of 1993 by Kirsten Tomlinson. Tomlinson says that Kenley forgot his Lakers hat at her house that weekend.
Kenley walking near the Tomlinson home. Most reports say he was wearing his Lakers hat when he went missing, however, police say that it was returned to them in February of 1993 by Kirsten Tomlinson. Tomlinson says that Kenley forgot his Lakers hat at her house that weekend.

On Friday, September 18, Kenley attended a party, known simply as the Tower party, in his residence. Kayrene was in Halifax for the weekend. When she returned she heard from a friend, Mike Hussey, that Kenley was pretty drunk at the party and had hit on Mike's girlfriend at the time. The overall theme seemed to be that many guys felt Kenley had paid too much attention to their girlfriends as well. Mike was Kayrene's good friend so she went to speak to Kenley in his room on Sunday, September 20 about what happened at the party. Original reports put this visit at 8 pm but over the years it has been said to have happened at 4pm. This was the last time Kayrene saw Kenley. During this visit, Kayrene and Kenley made plans to meet up the following night, Monday, September 21, to work on some problems for their calculus class that were due for their 8:30 am Tuesday morning class. Kenley never showed for the study session Monday night or his class on Tuesday morning.

Kenley Matheson lived in room 904 of Crowell Tower at Acadia University when he went missing
Crowell Tower, Acadia University

In fact, Kenley did not show up for any of his classes that week. There were only two people who stated they had seen Kenley on Monday September 21st - Todd Barker, the RA, of 9th floor Crowell Tower, and Tom Gordon. Todd Barker was originally said to be the last person to see him on Monday the 21st at around 9 or 10 pm is his room in Crowell Tower. Two years later, Todd Barker said that it was Sunday, September 20 that he saw Kenley in his room.


Redacted Wolfville Police Force fax from March 1995 stating that Todd Barker had lase seen Kenley Sunday September 20 and not Monday September 21, 1992
Redacted Wolfville Police Force Fax from March 1995

This changed the last person to have seen Kenley to Tom Gordon. There have been many inconsistencies with how many times Gordon is said to have seen him that day and in what direction Kenley was heading. However, in his earliest statements to police in 1992 and 1993, Tom said he saw Kenley twice that day - once on Main Street in Wolfville in the Royal Bank parking lot. According to bank records $20 was withdrawn from Kenley's bank account on Sunday September 20th and $20 was deposited back into his bank account on Monday September 21. Whether or not Kenley made these transactions, in particular the $20 deposit on Monday, has never been confirmed. The second sighting was when Tom Gordon was walking from campus, heading towards the gym in the Acadia Arena complex. He saw Kenley walking past the rink on Main Street. It is not clear if Kenley eventually turned off of Main Street and headed back towards campus or if he continued in the same direction, which was towards Nowlan's Canteen.

Nowlan's canteen was the main bus stop and a popular store in 1992. In the direction Tom says he saw Kenley walking, the Acadia gym would have been on Kenley's right, and Nowlan's Canteen would have been about a 5 minute walk up Main Street, on his left.
Nowlan's canteen was the main bus stop and a popular store in 1992. In the direction Tom says he saw Kenley walking, the Acadia gym would have been on Kenley's right, and Nowlan's Canteen would have been about a 5 minute walk up Main Street, on his left.


Kenley Matheson has not been heard from by friends or family since Sunday September 20, 1992. In his 1992 and 1993 statements to police, Tom said he spoke to Kenley briefly when he saw him in the parking lot of the bank. Kenley's bank account, in which he had over $4000, remains untouched since that $20 deposit on Monday September 21, 1992.

1997 Missing Poster for Kenley Matheson born May 8, 1972, missing from Wolfville, Nova Scotia, $5000 reward for information
1997 Missing Poster
"My biggest thing is to just find his body." - Sarah MacDonald (Kenley's mother)

Missing Kenley, produced and directed by Ron LaMothe, is an in-depth, 5 part series, that brought a lot of attention to Kenley's disappearance, and provided much information that the public did not know. During filming, the investigation was taken in a whole new direction. If you want to help find Kenley Matheson, you should watch Missing Kenley and follow the Missing Kenley Twitter account and the Finding Kenley Facebook page. Missing Kenley is available to view on many streaming platforms including Amazon Prime. (link for Canadians Prime Video: Missing Kenley); link for Americans (Watch Missing Kenley | Prime Video (amazon.com))


Twitter @MissingKenley 

Facebook Finding Kenley 


Kenley Matheson
Kenley Matheson

CONTACT NUMBER FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING KENLEY MATHESON:


Any person with information regarding the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Allan Kenley MATHESON should call the Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program at 1-888-710-9090. The Government of the Province of Nova Scotia is offering rewards of up to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the disappearance of Allan Kenley MATHESON.


RESOURCES:

Missing Kenley documentary, Ron LaMothe

Missing Kenley Twitter

Finding Kenley Facebook page


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