‘It just makes no sense’
Two years in and Halifax mom is no closer to finding out what happened to her son
Anything to keep her boy’s name alive.
That’s why Theresa Gray marched in the rain Friday afternoon. She was with about 50 others protesting in front of Halifax Regional Police headquarters. They want to know what happened to her 16-year-old son and who's responsible.
Saturday marks exactly two years since Devon Marsman walked out of her west-end Halifax home and never returned.
What is known is that the boy, barely five feet tall and 100 pounds, had taken a cab to Gala Court in Spryfield. He was with two men, one of whom was a cousin. Both had extensive criminal records, involving violence and drug trafficking. There have been no arrests.
“I just want Halifax Regional Police to do their job,” Gray said Friday before the march. “How do they know where Devon was before he disappeared, who he was with, but they can’t find the people responsible for his disappearance?”
“It just makes no sense to me,” she said.
“If they think that Devon’s case is too complex, maybe they need to bring in new investigators who are up to the job.”
The case has been marked by one surprising turn after another. From the outset, Marsman’s disappearance was considered a missing person case. Seven months went by before the case was labelled suspicious by HRP. The force has provided no information about what made investigators change their mind. Police believed that there were people out there with information about the missing teen.
Then there’s the conduct of officers in the case. Two lead investigators assigned to the case in the beginning have since been replaced. One officer had written several posts on a Facebook page devoted to finding Devon. The officer was defending investigators’ handling of the case. Devon’s mom said she got a call from the other officer screaming at her after she contacted the department with concerns about how the case was being handled.
On Friday, HRP released a statement saying its Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division is still on the case.
The statement described Devon as an African Nova Scotian youth, approximately five feet tall, 100 pounds, with blue-green eyes, and short dark hair. Police pointed out again that investigators believe there are people who know about Devon's disappearance but aren’t talking.
They’re asking anyone with information to call police at 902-490-5020.
Devon’s mom knew the news release was coming. She was told so by an investigator earlier this week. She was also told her son’s case is an active investigation and that it’s moving forward.
In her mind, that’s not good enough.
“It’s been two years. What’s happening to make things move forward?
“I’m going to continue to dig, to search, to ask questions.”
Lisa Fenton is a member of Wings of Mercy, a volunteer organization that helps families search for missing loved ones. Fenton got involved in the search for Devon after his mom called her about a month after he disappeared.
She discovered that Devon had left behind a computer, ipod and Play Station 4 which he used regularly to send messages to friends. His computer contained a contact list with coded names and phone numbers. The police never examined those devices. His social media accounts had not been accessed by investigators in the weeks after her boy’s disappearance.
She's also desperate for answers.
“I think the police are sitting back and waiting for something to land on their lap and that’s not going to happen,” said Fenton.
“Today is about keeping Devon’s name and face out there. Even though it’s been two years, evidence is still out there."
Devon’s case is part of the Nova Scotia Department of Justice Rewards for Major Unsolved Crimes Program which offers cash rewards of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for specified major unsolved crimes. Callers must contact the Rewards Program at 1-888-710-9090, must provide their name and contact information, and may be called to testify in court. All calls will be recorded. The amount of the award will be based on the investigative value of the information provided.