Family and friends organize search for missing Halifax teen
A few dozen friends, family members, and strangers gathered in Spryfield, N.S., on Saturday to search for a teenager who disappeared three months ago.
"Three months of torture," said Theresa Gray, Devon Marsman’s mother.
Gray said her son was last seen with another 16-year-old and his older cousin in Spryfield.
He was last heard from the week of February 21 and reported missing to police on March 4.
On Saturday, many responded to a call on Facebook to search the streets, woods, or the area around Roach’s Pond looking for clues.
"Trying to get some people gathered together and doing something is better than doing nothing. We just want to help this family and try and bring Devon back home," said Terene Murphy, one of the search organizers.
"We gotta find him or help get the family some closure cause it's rough," said Giselle Cunningham, one of the searchers.
Gray has gone around the region looking for her son.
"I've been so far as Yarmouth and Digby. I've been to Windsor. I've been to Kentville and Wolfville. I've been to Bridgewater and Shelburne," she said. "I've been to Fredericton, Moncton. I just don't know where to put another flyer."
During the investigation, Halifax Regional Police have said there's no evidence of foul play.
When CTV News asked police whether they knew where Marsman was, Cst. John MacLeod said he couldn’t comment on specifics of the investigation.
"What I can tell you is our investigators are doing everything they can. Working with the family and reaching out to everyone they can to try and locate Devon," said Cst. MacLeod.
A newly organized Facebook group has members printing and putting up posters to spotlight his disappearance.
"We keep pushing the Crime Stoppers number. We keep pushing the Crime Stoppers page," said Lisa Fenton with Wings of Mercy, an organization that helps support families whose children are missing. "We want people to give information to the police. We know there's people in the community who know information."
Gray adds her son's bank account hasn’t been used and his social media accounts have been silent.
"In my heart it's almost like, is somebody holding him or is he being drugged because I know honestly if he had access to a phone I know he would call me," Gray said. "Because we're super close and there has to be a reason why he's not being in touch."
Marsman is described as an African Nova Scotian youth, approximately 5 feet tall, 100 pounds, with blue-green eyes, and short dark hair.
Halifax police are asking Devon or anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 902-490-5020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.