Mom hopes vigil will remind public of her missing son
Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
Thursday, 18 December 2008
Disappearance worries family
Police continue investigating missing-person case
A vigil will be held this weekend for Luke Degerness, the local youth who has disappeared for the past year and a half.
"People are in the giving spirit, perhaps it will tug at the heart strings a little bit and I can get some more eyes out there watching for him," said Gina. "It's like he dropped off the planet. He's been gone since he was 14, and his 16th birthday is coming up soon (Jan. 29). We would love to have him home for Christmas."
Luke was last seen at Prince George secondary school on June 7, 2007. He was wearing a red baseball cap, blue jeans, white t-shirt, and black running shoes. He was also carrying a large camouflage backpack. According to investigators with Missing Children Society of Canada, he had gotten into some trouble at school but a meeting with school officials that day had gone well and he apparently left the meeting in a good mood heading for his next class. He never arrived.
"It's just worrisome that not one friend, not one family member has heard from him. That's what worries me the most, I think," Gina said.
He has a long history of trouble, but nothing that would turn his family's back on him, Gina said. He was in Edmonton for a while before his disappearance, and some of the investigations since his disappearance have centred there. There was a recent suggestion he was in Calgary and that has so far turned up nothing.
"The more prayers and positive energy we can get going, hopefully that is what will help bring him home," said Gina, who refused to give in to the emotions of the other possibilities.
The vigil will be held Saturday on the steps of the Prince George Courtouse at 7 p.m. People are encouraged to attend and show support, and it would be appreciated if you brought a candle for yourself (and a punctured cup or some other item to use as a windshield).
For more information, Gina has set up a Facebook group in honour of her son. Anyone interested can search for "Luke Degerness Is Still Missing" and join this group for regular updates.
Anyone with information on Degerness's activities or whereabouts should call the Missing Children Society of Canada's investigators at 1-800-661-6160 or email
tips@mcsc.ca.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The RCMP can be reached at 561-3300 or for anonymous information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at
www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.
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