It was a sombre Christmas for Diane Gratton as she spent it without her son, Branden Bodson-Gratton.
The 25-year-old hasn't been seen or heard from since Monday, Dec. 3, when he was dropped off by a cab on Elm Street, close to his home in a rooming house in Elgin Street.
While it has been a sad, stressful time, Gratton said she wants to thank Sudburians for their support.
“My phone blew up with constant prayers and kind words and offers of food, people asking 'What can I do to help?'” she said. “That helped me get through the holidays, knowing that they're thinking of my son too.”
Asked if she fears the worst given Branden been missing for more than a month now, and in cold winter weather too, Gratton said she's trying to stay positive.
“You have to think about it, but you don't want to go there, because we don't know,” she said, adding family members hope he has perhaps broken into a heated vacant house and is hiding.
The young man has schizophrenia, and Gratton said he may have been in a drug-induced psychosis when he went missing, so he could be afraid to leave a hiding spot.
Family members remain focused on solving the mystery of his disappearance.
Gratton said she and Branden's dad have submitted their DNA to the national missing persons databank, which would allow him to be identified if he were found deceased.
His cell phone, which was found Dec. 5 by someone in the parking lot of the John Howard Society on Pine Street, has been sent to police in Sault Ste. Marie, where officers are attempting to unlock it.
“He's always texting,” Gratton said. “That would give us an idea of what he was texting and to who. It might give us a hint.”
After Branden's disappearance, family members found the door to his room unlocked and his kitten unfed and roaming the halls of his boarding house. His winter coat, bank card and keys were all inside the room.
Greater Sudbury Police have conducted ground searches, and a helicopter was even brought in to aid in the search. Volunteers have also been searching and posting fliers around the city.
In late December, police released Vale security footage of a man taken near Stobie Mine, believing it may possibly be Bodson-Gratton, but later confirmed it was not the missing man.
Gratton said it's unusual that her son hasn't made contact with anyone for such a long time, as he's very social and would always seek out help if he wasn't feeling well.
She encourages people to contact her through Facebook if they want a flier with Branden's information. She suggests people put the fliers in their car dashboards so they get more exposure.
If you have a tip on Branden's whereabouts, contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
