Sundre's Dayle Raymond is joining other family members in asking the public's help in finding out more information about the death of her cousin, Logan Raymond, who was found dead on the southside of Highway 2A in August.
ìIt's been five months and I really feel that someone knows what happened,î said Raymond. ìObviously the feeling in the family is that it wasn't a natural causes kind of thing. He was a perfectly healthy 17-year-old kid on his way home.
ìWe are trying to find out what happened and then we can make peace and move on. Obviously it's undone.
ìHe has a brother that is a few years older and he really needs to know what happened so he can move on with his life, and everyone else does too.î
Logan's parents and other family members have teamed up with Crime Stoppers to offer a $10,000 reward for information regarding the boy's death.
The body of Logan Raymond was found on the southbound side of Highway 2A at around 1:30 a.m. on the morning of August 12.
He was last seen at around 12:15 a.m. on August 12 walking southbound on Taylor Drive in Red Deer in the right-hand lane and at the time he was wearing a brown hoodie, blue jeans and black shoes.
He died from head trauma, and his body was found in an area directly west of the Word of Life Church where a small roadside memorial now sits.
Logan's grandfather, Frank Raymond, said the family wants closure in the tragedy.
ìI want to find whoever did it,î said Frank. ìSomebody knows who has done it.î
RCMP from Central Alberta detachments have been trying to put together a timeline of the events leading up to Logan's death, but have so far been unable to determine if he was struck by a vehicle or perhaps fell from a vehicle.
ìSomeone (possible witnesses) has probably heard or saw something that seems insignificant but is really the last piece of the puzzle the police need,î said Dayle Raymond.
ìThe RCMP did have a fair number of people come forward, but they are still missing pieces and they can't figure out exactly what happened.î
Last week Logan's parents, Tammy and Kimbal Raymond, renewed their call for public tips in the case during a widely publicized press conference.
ìWe know we can never bring our son back but please if you have the information come forward and do the right thing so that our family can find some closure and begin to heal,î said Tammy Raymond.
This is the first time in its history that the Central Alberta Crime Stoppers will be partnering with a private citizen to offer a higher reward for information, said a press release from Crime Stoppers.
ìNormally, the maximum amount Central Alberta Crime Stoppers gives for tips on any crime is $2,000,î said Buck Buchanan, chair of Central Alberta Crime Stoppers.
ìHowever, an agreement we have with the Raymond family allows us to offer a reward of $10,000 for information on Logan's death. We are confident that the more attention the case gets, the more likely someone will remember something, and submit a tip to police or Crime Stoppers.î
Logan's family came forward to the public once more back in September, asking people to come forward with information and since then a few tips have come in, but nothing that is really solid, said Buchanan.
Dayle Raymond said Logan was a friendly and good person.
ìBeing at his service was an incredible experience. The funeral home was overflowing with kids from his age group. He'd obviously made a really big impact on a lot of people. He was well liked and he was a good kid,î she said.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Red Deer Rural RCMP at (403) 343-5591 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
- with file from Justina Contenti, Innisfail Province
