News

20 years since Jacksonville father mysteriously disappears

Jacksonville, FL. — On Feb. 23, 2001, John Rowan, a 34-year-old father and businessman vanished without a trace.

The Ireland native left behind a wife, two young children, and loving parents.

He was last seen leaving his home early in the morning on Chasewood Drive.

He was never heard from again.

No bank account activity was reported either.

Shortly after he disappeared, his SUV was found close to the Orlando International Airport, but no sign of Rowan.

His parents have searched for him ever since, even hiring people to dig through a landfill in 2003 at the advice of a psychic.

“Never, in all my life would I think for one minute I would be sitting here 20 years later,” Margaret Rowan, John’s mother said, her agonizing search for her first-born child has never stopped.

Rowan has been doing local tv interviews about her son’s case for two decades.

Rowan talked about the last time she saw her son, pointing to pictures of family trips with John, weddings, and memories, now two decades old.

“I am getting to a stage now where I can’t wait any longer for answers.” Rowan said.

Rowan said her son was in the process of leaving his company when he disappeared.

No suspects have officially been named in the case, but Rowan believes it was someone close to her son.

“Please, please, please tell us where he is. We just want to find him. We really want to find John.” Rowan said.

John Rowan’s children are now adults, his wife Caroline, never remarried.

Rowan said she is putting pressure on detectives to do more to close her son’s case and hopes to put him to rest soon.

Ya know, when ya bring a baby into this world, there ya babies for a lifetime. Ya love them with all your heart and soul. " Rowan said.

Project Cold Case: Families of homicide victims needing assistance or to submit a cold case, visit https://www.projectcoldcase.org/

If you have information about Rowan’s disappearance you can leave a tip with Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).