When 15-year-old Brandon Crisp ran away from home on Thanksgiving Monday, his parents were concerned. But after more than a week without any sign of the youngster, that concern has turned into outright panic.
The Barrie boy became involved in an argument with his parents over playing his Xbox on October 13th. When they took away his favourite game, the child stomped out of his home, got on his bike and pedaled away.
His mother and father expected he'd be back, perhaps heading to a friend's house to cool off. But when he didn't show up anywhere police were called.
They've been searching for him ever since.
After scouring the areas around his home this week, Barrie Police managed to find the two-wheeler he'd been riding at a local trail. But that only added to the mystery. Did he abandon it there or did someone force him off of it? Authorities have no idea.
Now his parents have issued a personal plea to anyone who may know where he is to call police. They think he may have gone up north, and are asking Toronto residents to help.
"There are many, many cottages up in this area that are owned by people in Toronto, that may only use them for a few months of the year," explains dad Steve Crisp. "I'm appealing to you people, if you have the time, please come up, check out your cottages, make sure that they haven't been broken into or anyone's been staying there. Local residents in the area, please check your outbuildings. Search your grounds."
Police are concentrating their search in the woods where the bike was found. They're considering all possibilities, including the teen being forced into a car and being driven out of the area. But so far, there's no evidence of foul play.
Messages of hope have been springing up at the lad's school but with the arrival of winter weather, the search has become more urgent.
If you have any clues that can help end it and bring Brandon home, call Barrie Police at
(705) 725-7025.