Family and friends gather hold a candlelight vigil to mark missing boy’s birthday

Prince George, BC –  It has been four-and-a-half years since 14-year-old Lucas Degerness was last seen in Prince George…

The PGSS student has been missing since June 7, 2007.  In November of 2010, the Missing Childrens Society of Canada conducted a search of Hudson’s Bay slough after receiving new information about the teen’s disappearance. (click here, for previous story)

Last night, relatives and friends gathered at the courthouse – as they do every year on Lucas’ birthday – for a candlelight vigil.  Yesterday marked his 19th birthday.

Missing from this year’s gathering was his mom, Georgina Degerness, and her young daughter Jade who moved to Edmonton in August.  Lucas’ aunt, Lorena Frazier, says she spoke to her sister on the phone earlier in the day and Georgina was finding it difficult to be apart from her family for the event. (at right, Frazier holds a picture of her nephew)

The missing teen’s grandmother, Evelyne Parry, says marking his birthday in this way serves an important purpose.  "It’s a good thing if he’s still around that we let him know that we all care and we think about him everyday."

Grandfather, Lynn Parry, says the RCMP have just completed an aged-enhanced photo of how Lucas might look today – it’s en route in the mail and he’s hopeful it will be used to update posters of Lucas.

Parry says the Missing Childrens Society of Canada is still actively investigating his grandson’s case, as are the RCMP.  MCSC plans to return to Prince George in June to do a media blitz marking the 5th anniversary of Lucas’ disappearance.

Parry is hopeful there will be some break that might move the case forward.  With tears in his eyes, the grandfather laments, "I just don’t understand why he hasn’t called."