Yesterday, Mission RCMP said they were now able to rule out the possibility of Internet luring or predation -- but are no closer to finding out why Jeffrey, 17, disappeared without a trace on April 29.

"We know he was low in spirits at the time but we have no theories. We are keeping all options open," said RCMP Const. Amanda Fallis.

Some searchers say they are disappointed by what they say is the RCMP "downplaying" the boy's disappearance.

Ron Sander, a Whistler operations manager who has two teenaged sons of his own but knows the Surtel family only slightly, noted that private citizens did most of the searching for Jeffrey last weekend and that a local search-and-rescue team attended as volunteers when the RCMP refused to call them out.

Fallis said RCMP do not call out search-and-rescue unless a missing person has been sighted in a particular spot.

Jeffrey was last seen by a neighbour late on a Saturday night, leaving the cul-de-sac outside his family's home, riding the "distinctive" CCM blue mountain bike with yellow front forks that his father says might provide a clue to his son's fate, if it can be found.

Jeffrey's father, Gary Surtel, says his son was a quiet boy who went from school to home, where he mainly played computer games. Jeffrey's grades fell on his last report card and his parents barred him from the computer for a week. They also told him he had to apply for a summer job and accompanied him on a job search.

"He dreaded contact with the public, so he didn't want to get a job," said Surtel, who admitted he's "extremely worried" that Jeffrey was planning suicide.

"We just want him to call and let us know he is safe," he added.

sfournier@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007