Family thanks community after son found dead
The family of Promise (Max) Chukwudum, who was found dead last week, are thanking the public and police for their support during the university student’s disappearance.On Dec. 21, Regina Police Service members responded to report of a man’s body being found in a creek area behind the Shell gas station on the corner of Sherwood Drive and Mcintosh Street. On Thursday evening, police confirmed the deceased man had been identified as Chukwudum. He had been missing for just over a month.Police said there was no indication Chukwudum’s death was the result of a criminal act. The release said the Regina Police Service and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service are conducting a death investigation to more fully understand the circumstances of his death.The 19-year-old University of Regina student and rugby player went missing in the early hours of Nov. 17. He was last seen around Marshall Crescent in Regina’s Normanview neighbourhood, a few blocks south of where his body was found on Friday afternoon.A spokesperson for Chukwudum’s family said they are expressing their thanks to the public, police, media and supporters for their help during the search.Chukwudum originally was from Lagos, Nigeria. He followed in the footsteps of his older sister, Chinaza Chukwudum, who already had come to Canada to study at the University of Saskatchewan.He was in his second year of computer science and played on the University of Regina rugby team. He was preparing for a future in business and technology. His family said he was “carefree,” loved sports and was excited to be in Canada.Nathan Scrazzutti said he had always hoped there was a chance he would get to see his friend and rugby teammate again. He said the discovery, though tragic, at least has provided some closure.“Until we heard that news, there was always a chance that I was just going to get to yell at Max for wandering off and not telling any of us, but then again it’s not the nightmare scenario we were all terrified of, where we would have never found out what had happened,” Scrazzutti said.Scrazzutti thanked members of the public who helped in search efforts or raised awareness.“It was wonderful to see the outpouring of support for Max and his family, and while it’s terrible we came to this conclusion, it’s something that we can lean back on to know that this community watches out for its own,” Scrazzutti said.Scrazzutti said the rugby community has set a date to gather, and plans to find a charity it can make donations to in Promise’s name.Soon after Promise went missing, Chinaza joined teams of volunteers during search efforts to find her brother. David Chukwudum, father to both Chinaza and Promise, travelled to Regina from Nigeria in late November to find out what had happened to his son.The University of Regina provided support to both family members, and hosted a rally titled #Bringmaxhome on Nov. 29. A candlelight vigil followed on Dec. 13 at City Hall.Thomas Chase, provost and vice president (academic) at the U of R, had worked closely with Chukwudum’s family during his disappearance. He said the student’s father returned to Nigeria about four days ago. Chase called the outcome a devastating loss.“To lose a student under any circumstances is very painful for the university community. To lose someone under these circumstances, and someone who has come to university from so far away, is very painful,” Chase said.
© PressReader. All rights reserved.